The puerto rico urban & community forestry program works in coordination with the state, private, and tribal forestry unit at the international institute of tropical forestry of the USDA forest service

The Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources received a $396,000 Project Grant from the USDA Forest Service under the Urban and Community Forestry Program (CFDA 10.675) on September 22, 2025. The award funds three full-time positions—a Program Coordinator, Partnership Coordinator, and Program Assistant—through August 31, 2029, to lead implementation and monitoring of urban reforestation projects under the Puerto Rico Urban & Community Forestry (UCF) cost-share subgrant program. These positions support the program's core mission of providing technical and financial assistance to municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and private entities for effective management of public trees and forest resources in built-up areas across Puerto Rico.

Through this funding, the program delivers ongoing coordination of partnership activities, management of reforestation initiatives, and educational outreach promoting the benefits of urban trees and forests. The award ensures continuous program operations to support Puerto Rico's urban forest health and actively manage forest resources as tools for community well-being and economic development. The program operates in coordination with the USDA Forest Service's International Institute of Tropical Forestry, which provides technical oversight and support for forestry activities throughout the territory.

The program's mission is to provide support to nonprofit and private organizations, public and private entities, and municipalities on the effective management of public trees and other forest resources in built-up areas and participate in educational activities to promote the benefits of trees. This proposal is intended to secure continued funding for the program coordinator, partnership coordinator and program assistant to lead ongoing implementation efforts and monitoring of urban reforestation projects established through the puerto rico UCF cost-share subgrant program. The funding awarded with this grant will ensure that puerto rico S urban forests have an active management and are utilized to promote economic development.