Governor Kathy Hochul announced $15 million in grants through New York’s new Community Reforestation (CoRe) program to celebrate Arbor Day 2025. Sixteen funded projects will establish and expand resilient forests across New York’s urban and suburban communities, supporting the State’s goal of planting 25 million trees by 2033.
“Resilient urban forests are critical to the health and well-being of our communities,” Governor Hochul said. “These grants will help reduce urban heat, strengthen biodiversity, and make New York a safer, greener place to live.”
The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) administers the CoRe program, targeting areas with high heat vulnerability and degraded forest ecosystems.
Where the $15 million in grants will go
- $7.4 million to municipalities for urban park reforestation and invasive species removal
- $5.3 million to nonprofits for volunteer-driven forest restoration and ecological health projects
- $1.7 million to SUNY campuses for “living lab” reforestation research and education
Highlights include:
- City of New York: $2.9 million for tree planting across seven parks.
- City of Syracuse: $2 million for restoring 38 acres of forest and establishing a food forest.
- Natural Areas Conservancy: Nearly $3 million to restore degraded forests in New York City parks.
- Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe: $498,000 for restoring culturally significant forestland.
Many projects also feature youth workforce development programs, citizen science initiatives, and long-term stewardship efforts.
Tree Tracker and community engagement
All CoRe-funded projects will upload tree planting data into DEC’s public Tree Tracker tool. New Yorkers who upload tree plantings during April and May 2025 are automatically entered into the 25 Million Trees Sweepstakes for a chance to win prizes like a subscription to The Conservationist magazine.
Broader investments in reforestation
Governor Hochul’s 25 Million Trees Initiative also includes:
- $32 million to modernize the Saratoga Tree Nursery
- New technologies for tree tracking and forest management
- Expanded funding through the Environmental Bond Act
The New York Power Authority (NYPA) is also relaunching its Tree Power program for 2025, offering tree matching grants for eligible municipal and state customers to promote carbon sequestration and energy savings.
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