TRENTON, NJ — New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette announced Jan. 18 the award of $24.3 million in Natural Climate Solutions Grant program grants to local governments and nonprofit organizations to create, restore and enhance New Jersey’s green spaces and tree canopies in urban areas, salt marshes and forests.
“With Gov. Phil Murphy’s vision and leadership, New Jersey is waging its fight against climate change on multiple fronts,” LaTourette said during a ceremony in Trenton. “New Jersey will avoid the worst effects of our changing climate not only by reducing emissions of climate pollutants, but by investing in natural solutions that sequester carbon causing the extreme heat and flooding repeatedly striking our communities. Through DEP’s nation-leading Natural Climate Solutions Grant program, we will better support communities in their work to mitigate climate impacts — from our urban core to the Atlantic coast to our bay shores. And, with over $24 million of investments in urban and community forestry, marsh restoration and living shorelines, we will beautify neighborhoods and build greater climate resilience in the process.”
The announcement, made at Mill Hill Park in Trenton, underscores the important role natural resources play in sequestering carbon to meet the Garden State’s greenhouse gas goals. Meeting the state’s 2050 goal of an 80-percent reduction in greenhouse gases below 2006 levels requires an acceleration of the restoration of the state’s shorelines, forests and urban spaces. It is estimated that these projects will sequester 32,710 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2050.
“These grants are providing real opportunities for our environmental justice communities to take meaningful steps toward climate resilience and an improved environment,” said Kandyce Perry, director of NJDEP’s Office of Environmental Justice. “While each community has differing needs and ways of getting to their goals, they each share the strong desire to help improve the quality of life for their residents.”
These projects are funded through New Jersey’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a multistate, market-based program that establishes a regional cap on carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel power plants.
Berkeley Heights will receive $721,325 for a tree canopy restoration project. The township will work with the Berkeley Heights Environmental Commission, Union County Division of Park Environmental Services, Arterial and other stakeholders to plant 555 trees on township streets and rights of way, and 120 trees to reforest a blighted area adjacent to Watchung Reservation. These increases to the urban tree canopy in the township are expected to sequester more carbon, and reduce stormwater runoff and the heat island effect.
The city of Linden will receive $355,500 for an urban tree restoration project. Linden will plant 540 trees across eight Blue Acres–acquired lots and three city-owned, partially Green Acres–funded parks and lots in the Tremley Point region, including Sgt. Alexander Wales Memorial Park and Louis Avenue Park. The city will pair this carbon sequestration project with a public outreach effort, which includes educational signage at each site and a public tree-planting event with the local community.
“The city of Linden is proud to be a recipient of NJDEP’s NCS Grant program,” Linden Mayor Derek Armstead said. “These funds will enable us to plant over 500 trees and install educational signage across several barren Blue Acres–acquired properties and city-owned parks in our Tremley Point region. This project will help reduce the urban heat island effect, help sequester carbon, create wildlife habitat and enhance green space in our environmental justice community.”
Photo Courtesy of NJDEP