The purpose of this american rescue plan funded cooperative agreement is to provide funding under section 103 of the clean air act to tree new mexico to address the high urban heat island index in the…

Tree New Mexico, Inc. received a $200,000 Project Grant award from the Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 under the Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program (CFDA 66.306) to address urban heat island effects in Albuquerque, New Mexico from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2024. The award will fund activities to develop a citizen science heat mapping and monitoring program, conduct tree plantings and educational workshops on tree care, and analyze air quality data to reduce air pollution and climate change impacts in the low-income International District neighborhood. Specifically, Tree New Mexico will plant 200 trees, train residents on tree planting and care, conduct pruning workshops, and monitor newly planted trees. They will issue subawards to partners to check utility lines, dig planting holes, and provide air monitoring and community outreach support. The goal is to increase tree canopy cover, improve local air quality and reduce heat island effects through this community-driven urban forestry initiative.

The purpose of this american rescue plan funded cooperative agreement is to provide funding under section 103 of the clean air act to tree new mexico to address the high urban heat island index in the international district, a large, underserved area of the southeast quadrant of albuquerque, NM, by planting trees. Project activities include develop a citizen science heat island index mapping and monitoring program; training and for 'street tree' planting and 'special site' planting including 'hands on' tree planting educating; conducting pruning workshops and providing tree care education. Expected outcomes of this project are an increase in residents watering their trees; an increase in survivability of trees planted and monitored with this program; increase in citizen tree stewards committed to caring for newly planted trees and older trees; and a decrease in the heat island effect in ID as IT relates to air quality and climate change. Direct beneficiaries of this project are residents of the international district neighborhood of albuquerque, which is predominantly low-income people of color. The recipient intends to issue subaward agreements to its partners in compliance with appendix a of EPA's subaward policy. The sub-awardees will check all utility lines and DIG holes for the trees that will be planted in the community, as well as provide air monitoring and community canvassing support. Activities: the activities to be performed will include: -developing a citizen science heat island index mapping and monitoring program -canvassing neighborhoods and planning specialty tree planting sites -training residents in the use of tree plotter -training staff and setting up air quality monitors -gathering and analyzing air monitoring data -organizing two 'street tree' plantings of 100 trees with volunteers, along with planting and watering education at the end of each planting events -presenting basic care and pruning workshops for 25 participants in each neighborhood that receives the 100 street trees -implementing educational programming around tree care and stewardship, such as the tree stewards program -monitoring trees planted. Outcomes: CAA 103(b)(3): people with moderate-to-severe or uncontrolled asthma are more likely to be hospitalized from covid-19. Air pollution may contribute to asthma. By addressing air pollution in CAA 103(b)(3) projects, the chances of severe illness from covid-19 are reduced. Short-term outcomes estimate that 0.7% of international district residents will be trained in tree planting and basic tree care and choosing climate-ready trees to plant, as IT relates to the survivability of the trees during a change in climate. 0.09% of residents will be trained to prune trees to help them survive and thrive. 0.04% of residents will be trained as tree stewards and committed to volunteer in the ID for years to come. Intermediate outcomes include an 85% increase of the 200 international district residents in the planted neighborhoods that will routinely water their 0-3 year-old trees and follow basic tree care practices; a 10% increase of the 200 residents that received planted trees that will choose to plant climate-ready trees in the future; and a 85% survivability of trees planted and monitored under this program. Long-term outcomes include a 5% increase in tree canopy in the international district and a 2% decrease in the heat island index in neighborhoods planted as IT relates to air quality and climate change. Resultingly, there will be a 1% increase in the value of homes in neighborhoods where trees are planted and a 1% decrease in crime where trees are planted. The development of baseline data for urban heat island index for a citizen science-based model for the international district will be replicable for other areas across new mexico. Anticipated deliverables include the development of baseline data for the urban heat island index in the international d