Steve Jasiecki/Temperature readings show the benefits of shade trees.
TRENTON – The NJ Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday announced the award of $24.3 million in Natural Climate Solutions Grants to local governments and nonprofit organizations to create, restore and enhance green spaces and tree canopies in urban areas, salt marshes and forests.
The City of Atlantic City was awarded $759,000 to plant 180 trees along 13 blocks of Atlantic Avenue between Maine and Tennessee avenues. The project will provide increased shad and reduce the need for energy to cool properties, and reduce the heat island effect. The trees will increase natural carbon sequestration, improve air quality and reduce stormwater runoff, encouraging groundwater recharge.
“New Jersey will avoid the worst effects of our changing climate not only be reducing emissions of climate pollutants, but by investing in natural solutions that sequester carbon causing the extreme heat and flooding repeatedly striking our communities,” Commissioner Sean LaTourette said in a release.
The announcement was made at Mill Hill Park in Trenton, where the “Throwin’ Shade” Greening the Capital City” project will plant 1,000 tress to enhance the city’s urban tree canopy.
The City of Newark received $1.2 million to remove hazardous, dead trees and plant 331 new trees in targeted neighborhoods.
The grants are being funded through New Jersey’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a multi-state, market-based program that establishes a regional cap on carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel power plants.
Grants were also awarded for forest and woodlands restoration and establishing living shorelines and salt marsh restorations.
For more information about the Natural Climate Solutions Grant Program, visit https://www.nj.gov/dep/climatechange/mitigation/ncs-grant.html
