DEC Announces Fourth Round of 'Regenerate NY' Forestry Cost Share Grants

Projects Completed through Regenerate NY Contribute to 25 Million Tree Planting Goal

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar today announced $500,000 in funding is now available for the fourth round of the State's 'Regenerate NY' Forestry Cost Share Grant Program. The grant program assists private landowners with growing the next generation of resilient forests to mitigate climate change, provide wildlife habitat, protect air and water quality, and supply a critical renewable resource. Funded projects will enhance efforts made through Governor Kathy Hochul's ambitious 25 Million Trees Initiative to restore and sustain New York's natural landscapes.

"Regenerate NY funding provides critical financial support for projects that focus on regenerating and restoring forests, as well as creating new ones," said Interim Commissioner Mahar. "This support gives private landowners the opportunity to foster biodiverse forests on their lands and increase the ecosystem benefits forests provide, including the absorption and storage of carbon. Every acre of forest improved or created through this grant program brings New York closer to achieving the State's goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050."

Private landowners planning to restore or establish five or more acres of forest land in New York State may apply for grant awards ranging from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $100,000. A 10 percent match is required. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, planting trees, soil scarification, removing competing or invasive vegetation that interferes with seedling establishment and growth, and installation of deer fence. Applicants must work with a forester or a qualified natural resource professional to develop their project.

"Regenerate NY has been a great incentive for private forest landowners to invest in improving New York's forests," John Bartow, Executive Director of the Empire State Forest Products Association said. "Private forest account for 75 percent of all New York's forests and investing in them is a cost-effective way to improve regeneration, enhance forest health and sustain forest stocks that support or forest-based economy."

"The New York Forest Owner's Association applauds the Regenerate NY Forestry Cost Share Grant Program," New York Forest Owner's Association President Ed Neuhauser said. "Funding stewardship and regeneration efforts will help ensure our forests continue to support New York's rural economy, protect our water, and air quality, and sequester carbon, for generations to come. We look forward to the long-term improvements this initiative will contribute to our communities throughout the state."

Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Wednesday Nov. 6, 2024, or until funds are depleted, whichever comes first. Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis. Applications must be submitted through the SFS Grants Management System (SFS). Those wishing to apply need to establish an account in SFS. Once registered, search SFS for "Regenerate NY." For more details about the grant opportunity including application criteria, visit DEC's website.

Regenerate NY is funded by New York State's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and managed by DEC's Division of Lands and Forests. In the 2024-25 State Budget, Governor Hochul maintained EPF funding at $400 million, the highest level of funding in the program's history. The EPF provides funding for critical environmental programs such as land acquisition, farmland protection, invasive species prevention and eradication, enhanced recreational access, water quality improvement, and an aggressive environmental justice agenda.