Responding to an alarming trend of the loss of trees in Pennsylvania’s metropolitan areas, TreeVitalize is a public-private partnership to help restore tree cover, educate citizens about planting trees as an act of caring for our environment, and build capacity among local governments to understand, protect and restore their urban trees. Launched in 2004 in southeastern Pennsylvania, TreeVitalize already has achieved its goal of planting 20,000 trees in that five-county region.  In spring 2008, TreeVitalize expanded to the Pittsburgh region; in fall 2008 and throughout 2009 it was launched in metropolitan areas statewide. Tree-lined streets make communities look great, and they also clean the air, provide shade to cool buildings and paved areas, increase property values and help control storm water. With its expansion statewide, TreeVitalize hopes to plant one million trees across the Commonwealth in the next five years.

 

“TreeVitalize Metros” is a bit different from the TreeVitalize program in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The Philadelphia and Pittsburgh regional programs provide trees directly to qualified groups. In the other twelve metro areas, (1) applicants must apply for grants to purchase trees, (2) only municipalities may apply, and (3) applications are accepted not by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) DCNR itself, but by designated “Metro Partners” working in cooperation with DCNR.

 

Funding is available through TreeVitalize Metros for planting trees on streets within the public right-of-way and in parks and other public property. Technical assistance is available through DCNR Service Foresters and Penn State Cooperative Extension Foresters, and applicants are required to work through one of the foresters in developing a planting project. Contact information is provided in the TreeVitalize 2010 Grant Application provided below.  Applicants should read the entire application and Attachment I and III through X prior to filling out the sub grant application. Key sections are the planting plan, budget, funding limits per tree, Tree Tenders and their training, and payment schedule requirements. Do not hesitate to contact your Metro Partner when preparing the application. The grant application for the current funding round is due no later than July 1, 2010. Submit your completed application to your local Metros Partner. For Blair and Cambria Counties, the Metro Partner Point of Contact is Fred Querry (see contact information above).