NASF Centennial School Tree Challenge
Planting a tree symbolizes Strength, Resilience and Hope. In 2020 COVID-19 is touching all our lives. Planting a tree is a way to affirm the future.
The National Association of State Foresters is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2020 with a Centennial Challenge campaign. The campaign is to honor the work of the association in providing a unified voice for state and private forestry in the United States since 1920, and to highlight the social, environmental, and economic contributions state forestry agencies have made nationwide for over a century.
NASF will be spotlighting state forestry agencies and their work to complete 100-themed challenges throughout the centennial campaign.
In Alaska we have a Centennial Challenge for schools to apply for tree grants through the remainder of 2020. The goal is to have 100 schools plant a tree to celebrate Arbor Day and to celebrate Alaskans strength and resiliency.
Thanks to the US Forest Service, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry has grants for up to $400.00 for the purchase, shipping and planting of trees. Trees can be planted on school grounds, or even indoors if your school has a suitable space or a greenhouse.
Established in 1872, Arbor Day is set aside to plant trees, educate children and adults about their importance, and raise awareness about the many social and economic benefits that trees provide. Arbor Day is celebrated on the third Monday in May in Alaska. In 2020 Alaska’s official Arbor Day is May 18th. Schools can apply for grants anytime this year, but the actual plantings can be done in 2020 or 2021.
This is also an excellent opportunity for schools to become recognized by the national Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree Campus K-12. The goal of this program is to “inspire the next generation of tree stewards through experiences that bring the benefits of trees to life both outside and in the classroom.” To achieve recognition, schools are required to meet four basic program goals:
Schools are encouraged to involve students in the application and planning process. Simply by completing this application process and hosting a student-led planting event, schools can reach many of the benchmarks required for recognition. For more information about becoming a Tree Campus K-12 and the many benefits associated with recognition, visit the Arbor Day Foundation Website: https://www.arborday.org/programs/tree-campus-k-12/
Email proposals to: communityforestry@alaska.gov
Mail or deliver proposals to:
Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry
Community Forestry Program
550 W. Seventh Avenue, Suite 1450
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
For additional informations contact: Josh Hightower, Community Assistance Forester, (907) 269-8466, josh.hightower@alaska.gov or Jim Renkert, Community Forestry Coordinator, (907) 269-8465, jim.renkert@alaska.gov
Grants available to remove invasive trees in Alaska Community Forests
The USDA Forest Service (USFS) and the DNR, Division of Forestry, Urban and Community Forestry Program (CFP) have grant monies available to local governments and non-profits to reduce the impacts of invasive tree species in community forests statewide.
Approximately $20,000 is available for 100% cost-reimbursable grants. Applicants may apply for grants for up to $5,000.
These funds will be granted to awardees who have knowledge and commitment to controlling invasive tree species in their communities. Please submit proposals by July 2, 2020.
Please note that these grant monies are intended for tree species other than Prunus padus, commonly known as European bird cherry (EBC), chokecherry or mayday trees, and Prunus virginiana, commonly known as Canadian red and chokecherry. CFP has a separate grant program available for Prunus padus and Prunus virginiana control.
Eligible costs are for activities that demonstrate management options to reduce the impact of invasive tree species in community forests:
- Hiring crews or contracting work to treat or control invasive tree species through Integrated Pest Management techniques.
- Purchase of materials and supplies for Integrated Pest Management.
- Tree plantings or other restoration activities.
- Using remote sensing methods such as Treeworks, iTree or other GIS methods to map areas of invasive tree species.
- Purchase of computer software which will aid in the mapping and reporting of the project.
- Equipment rental or lease (leases must be specified in the grant proposal and agreement).
- Organizing community volunteer tree control events.
- Other items as determined by the grant review committee.
Click below for application materials:
CONTACT: Jim Renkert, (907) 269-8465, jim.renkert@alaska.gov
Grants available to remove invasive chokecherry trees from Alaska
The USDA Forest Service and the Alaska Division of Forestry are offering financial grants to local governments and non-profit organizations to control/reduce two types of invasive chokecherry trees from Alaska.
Both Prunus padus, commonly known as European bird cherry (EBC), chokecherry, or mayday trees, and Prunus virginiana, commonly known as Canadian red, or chokecherry, were originally introduced in Alaska as attractive ornamental trees. However, each has since been deemed an invasive species with the potential to significantly affect native ecosystems in Alaska.
Now rapidly invading riparian and natural forest areas in Southcentral Alaska and Fairbanks, Prunus padus is especially aggressive and poses several different hazards:
- Prunus padus can take over the understory of forests, and form thickets where native plants once grew.
- Prunus can be fatal to moose that graze on the bark, which contains naturally occurring cyanide.
- When compared to native streamside vegetation, EBC growing along Anchorage creeks has been shown to produce significantly less insect biomass. Insects falling into the creeks from streamside vegetation are known to be a critical food resource for juvenile salmonids. As EBC displaces native vegetation along Alaska’s waterways, it may adversely affect salmon populations over time. Invasive European bird cherry (Prunus padus) reduces terrestrial prey subsidies to urban Alaskan salmon streams
Project goals include the documentation of prominent Prunus padus and Prunus virginiana locations, training of additional certified Integrated Pest Management consultants and applicators, and the control/reduction of significant stands of Prunus padus and Prunus virginiana. Grantees may use some combination of manual, mechanical, and/or chemical control methods to achieve management goals.
Approximately $200,000 is available in grants of up to $25,000 each. Grants will be awarded to applicants with knowledge and commitment to removing Prunus species from their communities.
The application deadline is June 19, 2020.
Click below for application materials:
Request For Proposals (PDF)
Grant Announcement (PDF)
Grant Budget Form (Excel)
CONTACT: Jim Renkert, (907) 269-8465, jim.renkert@alaska.gov
State Forestry extends grant deadline for creative tree growing to June 1
The Alaska Division of Forestry’s Community Forestry Program has extended the deadline for non-profit organizations and government entities to apply for grants to fund demonstration projects for tree plantings or orchards.
The grants, of up to $15,000, are intended to fund projects identifying different types of tree species, varieties or cultivars that can thrive in Alaska’s unique climates, and to demonstrate new or innovative ways to help them do so. The new application deadline is 5 p.m. on Monday, June 1.
Project applications could include, but are not limited to, new technology, techniques, or approaches for street tree plantings, containerized orchards, seedling cultivation, biochar use or other pioneering ideas. Applicants are encouraged to be creative.
With funding assistance from the USDA Forest Service, the Division of Forestry has approximately $25,000 in total grant funds available. Applicants must be non-profit organizations or government entities.
Grants can be used for the purchase of A) trees, saplings, seedlings, or orchard trees; B) mulch, stakes, hoses, gloves, or other planting items and materials; C) educational materials; D) other required material and equipment; and E) limited shipping services.
Trees must be planted on public land within a community, and grant applications must include a three-year maintenance plan. Applicants working with schools are encouraged to consider involving students in the research and design, and to be creative and thoughtful in their plan design.
These projects will help the Division of Forestry evaluate the success of different demonstration and test projects, share results, and make recommendations.
For more information and application instructions, go to http://forestry.alaska.gov/community/grants
CONTACT: Jim Renkert, (907) 269-8465, jim.renkert@alaska.gov, or Josh Hightower at (907) 269-8466, josh.hightower@alaska.gov
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