Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Rocky Neck State Park is also closed until further notice due to a brush fire. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at a 'very high' or 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Press Releases

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01/04/2024

DEEP to Allocate $2 Million to Address Tree Canopy Access in Connecticut

Requests Proposals for Urban Forest Equity Grant Program

(HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced the Urban Forest Equity Grant Program. The new $2 million program is designed to address the lack of tree canopy in disadvantaged communities. The funding comes from the federal Inflation Reduction Act and is administered by the U.S. Forest Service.

This grant program is available to state and local government entities, federally recognized tribes, and non-profit organizations. Individual grants up to $200,000 will be available, and funding is expected to be allocated over multiple grant rounds through 2026. More information about this grant program, including criteria and how to apply, is available on DEEP’s website.

“Trees and forests in our cities and towns play a key role in filtering our air and water, supporting wildlife, and building social cohesion within our communities,” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. “This new federal funding builds neighborhood-level climate resilience to impacts like hotter temperatures and flooding, and will provide new shade and benefits to our environment on streets and blocks that disproportionately lack access to tree cover.”

By providing financial support for urban forestry projects, DEEP will increase access to trees and support healthy, resilient urban forests that provide multiple climate benefits. Trees provide many important benefits but are not equitably distributed across the landscape. In fact, 92% of low-income communities have less tree cover than high-income blocks in the U.S.

You can view examples of these types of projects here and of previously funded urban forestry projects here; DEEP has previously directed $1 million in state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative funding for urban forestry projects in Connecticut focused on environmental justice and climate change.

This grant program can support a variety of urban and community forestry projects including but not limited to:

  • tree planting
  • tree stewardship and maintenance
  • workforce development
  • invasive species management
  • urban wood utilization
  • urban food forests
  • extreme heat mitigation

All projects must demonstrate clear benefits to disadvantaged communities as defined in the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool. There is no match required for this grant.

In an effort to increase access to grant programs from new, non-traditional, and historically underrepresented groups working in disadvantaged communities, DEEP worked closely with the Land Subcommittee of the CT Equity and Environmental Justice Advisory Council (CEEJAC) to create a request for proposals and scoring criteria that would reflect the needs and capacity of potential applicants. DEEP will also host bi-weekly office hours throughout the grant application period to assist with the design and development of proposed projects; anyone interested in applying is encouraged to attend.

Potential applicants are also encouraged to attend a virtual informational and grant writing guidance session on February 1st from 4:30-5:30 p.m. More information about these office hours and information sessions can be found at the bottom of this page.   

More information on DEEP’s urban and community forestry grant programs can be found here. Reach out to DEEP.UCF.Grants@ct.gov for questions and more information.
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Contact

DEEP Communications  
DEEP.communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110