US Forest Service awards $1B in grants to boost green space access

The Biden administration is awarding more than $1 billion in grants as part of an effort aimed at increasing Americans’ access to trees and green spaces. 

The U.S. Forest Service, part of the Agriculture Department, said Thursday that it will issue 385 grants to increase access to trees and nature in cities, towns and suburbs around the country.

Research has shown that tree cover lessens the impacts of extreme heat, including by reducing heat-related deaths. Parts of cities without tree cover have been found to be hotter than those with trees. 

The funding for the initiative was announced earlier this year and comes from the Inflation Reduction Act, which Democrats passed last year.

“These investments arrive as cities across the country experience record-breaking heatwaves that have grave impacts on public health, energy consumption, and overall well-being,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement. 

“Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we are supporting communities in becoming more resilient to climate change and combatting extreme heat with the cooling effects of increased urban tree canopy, while also supporting employment opportunities and professional training that will strengthen local economies,” Vilsack added.