Urban and Community Forestry Program

Technical Assistance for RI Urban Forests

DEM, in partnership with the Green Infrastructure Center (GIC), is offering technical expertise and support for eligible Rhode Island municipalities to launch new urban forestry programs or to enhance their existing programs.

This comprehensive program includes support for tree canopy mapping, planning, management, planting, code and ordinance development, master plans, policy development, and community engagement and education. 

All eligible Rhode Island municipalities and federally recognized tribes are encouraged to apply by January 18, 2024. Application awards will be announced in February 2024. 

 

Learn more and apply

 

Grant Webinar: Rhode Island's Urban Forest Assistance Program

When: December 6, 2023 at 1:00 PM

Register to Attend

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about how to join the webinar including your unique link to attend.

Urban and community forests are the trees, plants, and associated ecosystems located where people are - country roads, new developments, small towns or large cities.

While the goals of traditional forest management and urban forestry may be similar: to grow, harvest, and replant trees that are suitable for their location; the products from that management are quite different. Products from traditional forestry and silviculture are wood, building materials, paper and more, created from the trees grown in forests. The main products from urban forestry are trees that are healthy, live long, and are structurally sound, and the associated benefits created by trees that are growing in and around people and their infrastructure.

Questions? Contact DEM Division of Forest Environment's Urban and Community Forestry Program Coordinator Robert Allard, 401-222-2445 ext. 2772056.

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U&C Forestry Grants

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Tree City USA

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Energy-Saving Tree Giveaways

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RI Arborist Info/Licenses

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Trees and Storms

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Tree Care and Maintenance

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Forest Management for Communities

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Trees: Nature-based Solutions

The Urban and Community Forestry Program supports urban forestry in Rhode Island by

  • Administering a cost-share federal grant program for municipalities, local governments, non-profits, educational groups and schools
  • Providing the Energy-saving Trees program
  • Providing technical and/or educational assistance regarding:
    - Community forest inventories, management plans, and tree ordinances
    - Grant project applications and implementation
    - Tree City USA, Tree Campus USA and Tree Line USA designations
    - Workshops for green industry professionals and Tree Wardens
    - RI Arborist licensing
  • Supporting and partnering with the RI Tree Council to provide RI residents, civic and volunteer organizations and educational institutions with information and education about trees, as well as planting and maintenance, species selection information

Resources

Tools to calculate your tree benefits:

Tools to calculate your community forest benefits:

Additional Resources