Project Grant 23DG11094200355

The Missouri Department of Conservation has been awarded a $1,500,000 Project Grant by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service under the Inflation Reduction Act Urban & Community Forestry Program (CFDA 10.727). This five-year grant will fund projects that advance environmental justice through urban and community forestry initiatives across the state of Missouri. The grant supports the Department's work to plan for, establish, manage, and protect trees, forests, green spaces, and related natural resources in and adjacent to cities and towns. Key activities include tree planting, ecosystem restoration, conservation planning, and educational outreach, with a focus on enabling underserved and disadvantaged communities, including American Indian communities, to increase tree canopy coverage. The grant aligns with the federal agencies' overarching priority to rapidly disseminate these significant forestry programs for disadvantaged groups across the country.