The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) offers Regular Urban Forestry Grants to support projects that enhance a community's capacity to manage its trees. While the context doesn't explicitly detail the DNR's overarching "foundation mission alignment," it's clear that these grants align with a broader strategic priority of environmental stewardship, community development, and public health through improved urban green spaces. The program's theory of change appears to be that by funding local initiatives in tree management, maintenance, and education, communities will become more resilient to environmental challenges, improve air and water quality, and enhance the quality of life for their residents.
The target beneficiaries for these grants include cities, villages, towns, counties, tribes, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations operating within Wisconsin. The impact goals are centered on fostering healthy and sustainable urban forests. This includes increasing tree canopy, improving tree health, and educating the public on the importance of urban trees. The program prioritizes projects that directly contribute to effective community tree management, recognizing the multifaceted benefits that well-maintained urban forests provide.
The grant program focuses on several key areas, including tree inventory and canopy assessment, urban forestry strategic or management plan development, pest and storm response planning, tree ordinance development, public outreach, staff and volunteer training, and tree planting, maintenance, and removal. These priorities reflect a comprehensive approach to urban forestry, aiming to build long-term capacity within communities rather than just funding one-off projects. The emphasis on plans, ordinances, and training suggests a strategic priority on sustainable and systemic improvements.
Expected outcomes and measurable results include an increase in the number of communities with urban forestry strategic plans, improved public awareness of urban forestry issues, enhanced skills among staff and volunteers, and a healthier, more diverse urban tree canopy. While specific metrics are not exhaustively listed in the provided text, the focus on "capacity to manage its trees" implies measurable improvements in inventory data, successful implementation of management plans, and visible improvements in tree health and coverage within participating communities. Grants range from $1,000 to $25,000, requiring a 50-50 match, with projects needing completion within one calendar year, providing a framework for managing and measuring these short-term outcomes.
