Virginia receives $6.6M to assist with forest projects

The Virginia Department of Forestry Offers Grant Funding for Urban and Community Forestry

The Virginia Department of Forestry, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, has announced the availability of grant funding for the 2023 Urban and Community Forestry Grant Assistance Program. The program aims to support projects in Virginia that contribute to the development and preservation of urban and community forest ecosystems.

Funding Allocation and Eligible Recipients

Virginia has received a total of $6.6 million in funding over a four-year period. This funding can be distributed among various entities, including civic groups, communities, local governments, tribal organizations, non-profit organizations, neighborhood associations, public schools, and state agencies.

Prioritizing Underserved Areas

Lara Johnson, the Urban and Community Forestry Program Coordinator at the Virginia Department of Forestry, emphasizes that this funding can reach all areas of the state. The program prioritizes projects located in historically underserved areas. Additionally, a match-waiver is available to enable those with the greatest need to access these funds.

Qualifying for Match-Free Grants

Proposals that exclusively benefit disadvantaged communities, as determined by the federal government’s screening tool, are eligible for match-free grants. These proposals can receive funding of up to $250,000 without requiring a project match. To qualify, the application must clearly explain how the proposed work will benefit these communities and provide references to online data tools confirming their disadvantaged status.

Funding for Projects Outside Disadvantaged Communities

Projects that do not primarily benefit disadvantaged communities are not eligible for full funding. However, they can still receive up to $50,000 in Community Forestry Assistance funds. These funds require a dollar-for-dollar match, which can be in the form of cash, services, or in-kind contributions.

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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Sustainable Development Goal: No Poverty

• Target 1.4: Ensure that all men and women, in particular, the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership, and control over land and other forms of property.
• Indicator 1.4.2: Proportion of total adult population with secure tenure rights to land, with legally recognized documentation and who perceive their rights to land as secure, by sex and by type of tenure.

2. Sustainable Development Goal: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.
• Indicator 8.3.1: Proportion of informal employment in non-agriculture employment, by sex.

3. Sustainable Development Goal: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible, green, and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons, and persons with disabilities.
• Indicator 11.7.1: Average share of the built-up area of cities that is open space for public use for all, by sex, age, and persons with disabilities.

4. Sustainable Development Goal: Climate Action

• Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
• Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.

5. Sustainable Development Goal: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
• Indicator 17.17.1: Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private and civil society partnerships.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Explanation:
1. The article mentions the Virginia Department of Forestry offering grant funding for urban and community forest ecosystems. This aligns with SDG 1: No Poverty, as it aims to ensure equal rights to economic resources and access to basic services. The specific target is Target 1.4, which focuses on equal rights to land and other forms of property. The indicator is Indicator 1.4.2, which measures the proportion of the population with secure tenure rights to land.
2. The article also mentions the promotion of development-oriented policies and job creation, which relates to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. The specific target is Target 8.3, which aims to promote decent job creation and entrepreneurship. The indicator is Indicator 8.3.1, which measures the proportion of informal employment in non-agriculture sectors.
3. The article discusses the provision of safe and accessible green spaces, which connects to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. The specific target is Target 11.7, which focuses on providing universal access to safe and inclusive public spaces. The indicator is Indicator 11.7.1, which measures the average share of built-up areas that are open space for public use.
4. The article mentions strengthening resilience to climate-related hazards, which relates to SDG 13: Climate Action. The specific target is Target 13.1, which aims to strengthen resilience to climate-related hazards and natural disasters. The indicator is Indicator 13.1.1, which measures the number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters.
5. The article highlights the importance of partnerships, connecting to SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. The specific target is Target 17.17, which encourages effective public-private and civil society partnerships. The indicator is Indicator 17.17.1, which measures the amount of US dollars committed to such partnerships.

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Source: wavy.com

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