Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla and the City of Hoboken today announced the City will create a Division of Urban Forestry in 2025 following the award of a $1 million grant from the Inflation Reduction Act and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Urban & Community Forestry Program. This funding will also support a comprehensive five-year urban forestry project aimed at expanding and maintaining Hoboken’s tree canopy, enhancing stormwater management, and mitigating climate change. Specifically, the project will include planting 300 new and replacement trees in public spaces, a green workforce initiative to provide training and employment opportunities to local youth and adults for tree maintenance, and educational programming at Hoboken schools.
“This $1 million grant will provide a critical boost to Hoboken as we continue to build a more sustainable city, while improving the lives of our residents,” said Mayor Bhalla. “Planting more trees and reducing greenhouse gas emissions are important parts of our own Climate Action Plan, and I thank the Biden administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service for this generous award."
The project will directly benefit Hoboken neighborhoods where residents face disproportionate impacts from climate change, flooding, and environmental inequities. The project will aim to mitigate the heat island effect, improve air and water quality, sequester carbon to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), and manage stormwater runoff to mitigate rainfall flooding. Additionally, it aligns with multiple goals outlined in Hoboken’s 2017 Green Building and Environmental Sustainability Element of the Master Plan, the 2018 Hoboken Master Plan, The 2019 Hoboken Climate Action Plan, and New Jersey’s 2020 Forest Action Plan.
The City of Hoboken Department of Climate Action and Innovation will lead the project, working closely with local organizations, residents, and experts. The City of Hoboken is an equal opportunity provider.
