PHX Reporter

City of Phoenix issued the following announcement on Jan. 6.

In a commitment to tree equity and fighting extreme heat, the city of Phoenix will receive up to half a million dollars in donations for tree planting projects across the city. The funds will be coming through a partnership with American Forests, the oldest national nonprofit conservation organization in the United States.

In April 2021, the City of Phoenix and American Forests entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work together to increase tree equity in Phoenix neighborhoods. Since the initial partnership, American Forests has raised more than $260,000 for tree planting efforts from both businesses and philanthropic groups on behalf of the city. At the January 5, 2022 formal meeting, Phoenix City Council voted 8-0 to receive up to $500,000 total from American Forests, and to disburse the funds through nonprofit partners such as Keep Phoenix Beautiful, Trees Matter, and the Arizona Sustainability Alliance, as needed.

“I am looking forward to supporting this item,” Mayor Kate Gallego said during the Council meeting. “American Forests has been a strong partner with us and it’s exciting to see funding opportunities come to our community.”

The first round of funding from American Forests will immediately support tree planting projects in areas with low tree equity scores, in city parks, and at schools. Funds will also be utilized by the Neighborhood Services Department for residential planting projects.

“Achieving our citywide tree canopy and tree equity goals will only be possible with great partners and collaborations, including those with community groups, philanthropic organizations, and the private sector,” said Dr. David Hondula, director of the newly-created Office of Heat Response and Mitigation. “Our partnership with American Forests is not only helping us craft our strategy, but is also bringing significant new resources to Phoenix that can help us make much bigger strides toward our goals than we've been able to in the past.”

Funding partners include Salesforce, iHeart Radio, and Aspiration Bank. As new projects get identified, American Forests will continue to fundraise on behalf of the city to help reach tree equity by 2030, along with other goals outlined in the Tree and Shade Master Plan and Climate Action Plan.

“If we can achieve tree equity here in our desert community in a way that’s sustainable, then cities across the country can do so as well,” Gallego said.

Original source can be found here.