More Trees Can Change The World – And Newark, Cory Booker Says

NEWARK, NJ — With the planting of a tree in Newark, a $1 billion pledge towards expanding access to “urban nature” across the United States took root on Wednesday.

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, a Newark resident, was among those on hand for a news conference in Lincoln Park to announce a coming windfall of federal grants, including money for New Jersey.

According to a statement from Booker’s office, the grants are part of a $1.5 billion investment in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program from President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. The money will benefit community-based organizations, tribes, municipal and state governments, nonprofit partners, universities and other eligible entities as they work to “increase tree cover in urban spaces and boost equitable access to nature while bolstering resilience to extreme heat, storm-induced flooding, and other climate impacts.”

In addition to the grant funding, the USDA Forest Service is providing up to $250 million to states and territories – including $11.25 million to New Jersey – to further local efforts to support urban communities through equitable access to trees and the benefits they provide.

Lincoln Park, the site of Wednesday’s announcement, recently received $3.55 million for restoration, the senator pointed out. Read More: Booker, Menendez Secure $3.5M For Lincoln Park In Newark

“Since my days as mayor of Newark, I have seen the transformative impact that trees can have for urban communities,” Booker said.

The senator continued:

“Studies have shown that trees save families money in heating and cooling costs, reduce air and water pollution, decrease the risk of respiratory illnesses like asthma, reduce flooding, and protect people from extreme heat. The Inflation Reduction Act’s $1.5 billion allocation to the Urban and Community Forestry Program will help us plant more trees across our communities, with a focus on overlooked and disadvantaged areas. This historic investment will help us tackle the most pernicious effects of climate change, move us closer to remedying environmental injustices, and pay dividends for generations to come.”

In 2019, Booker first introduced a bill to address climate change with nature-based solutions, the Climate Stewardship Act, that envisioned an ambitious program to plant more than 15 billion trees to revive deforested landscapes and expand urban tree cover. Additionally, beginning in 2020, Booker introduced the bipartisan TREE Act, which would create a cost-share grant program at the Department of Energy to provide funding to plant a minimum of 300,000 trees annually in residential neighborhoods to reduce energy consumption and help protect public health.

Booker was joined by U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-10), U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Homer Wilkes, White House Senior Advisor for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation John Podesta, and NJDEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette at Wednesday’s event.

“This program helps the environment because it provides technical expertise, educational assistance, and funding to plant trees and maintain natural habitats in urban areas,” Rep. Payne said, adding that he’s a “strong supporter of the urban forestry program.”

“In addition, the new trees will help clean the air, lower air conditioning bills through increased shade, limit storm runoff through increased water absorption, and improve the mental health of residents,” the congressman said. “This urban forestry program is a great way to improve urban communities and decrease climate change at the same time.”

Students from Great Oaks Legacy Charter School in Newark were also in attendance at the event, which took place across the street from the high school. The community leaders shared a sustainability lesson with the students, who were able to take a small sapling home with them.

Jared Taillefer, executive director at Great Oaks Legacy Charter School, said it was an honor to have the students take part in Wednesday’s event.

“Our students had an incredible time meeting with and learning more about environmental sustainability from Senator Cory Booker, Congressman Donald Payne Jr., White House Senior Advisor John Podesta and the many other officials and community leaders who attended,” Taillefer said.

“We are all looking forward to seeing a robust expansion of planted trees across Newark,” Taillefer enthused.

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