Additional $500K Available Through ‘Regenerate NY’ Forestry Cost Share Grant Program

Overview

In early 2024, New York State announced an action plan to plant 25 million trees by 2033 in an effort to protect natural water bodies and safeguard clean water. The state’s ‘Regenerate NY’ Forestry Cost Share Grant Program provides funding to support this “25 Million Trees Initiative,” as well as the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s (CLCPA) goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The Regenerate NY Program is funded by the New York State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and is overseen by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Division of Lands and Forests. For the current year, EPF is providing $400 million in funding to support a variety of environmental programs. The Regenerate NY Program is one of the many programs funded by the EPF.

About the Regenerate NY Program

The Regenerate NY Program provides grant funding to private landowners willing to make an effort to foster their forests. Private forests encompass about 75% of all of the forests in New York State, so investing in them is an investment in sustaining overall forest health. Taking care of forests helps regenerate these ecosystems, which in turn leads to climate change mitigation and more biodiverse wildlife habitats in New York. Efforts made under the Regenerate NY Program will directly increase the absorption and storage of carbon in private forests, protecting environmental quality.

So far, there have been three rounds of the Regenerate NY Program. On August 16, 2024, DEC announced the fourth round of this program. In this round, $500,000 in funding has been made available, further emphasizing the need to continue to plant and sustain new forests.

To make New York’s goals a reality, applicants will receive awards of between $10,000 and $100,000 for eligible projects. Examples of eligible projects include planting trees, soil scarification, eradicating plants that inhibit seedling growth, and implementing measures to prevent animals from affecting new forest growth. Applicants must have at least five acres of forest land that they will work on, and must provide a 10% match.

How to apply

Applicants are required to work with a qualified natural resource professional or a forester on their projects. The deadline for applications for the fourth round of funding is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 6, 2024.

To submit an application, you must use the SFS Grants Management System (SFS). Applicants must create an SFS account. Once this is complete, you can find the grant program by searching “Regenerate NY.”

How Walden can help

To learn more about the Regenerate NY Program, click here. If you would like to discuss designing an eligible project for this program, our team of experienced grant writers can help. Contact us at 516-548-2974.