Miami-Dade County has received a $25,000 grant from the Florida Forest Service aimed at supporting urban forestry initiatives. The grant is intended to enhance public knowledge of urban forests and their benefits. According to Miami-Dade County, the funding will be used to create educational programs and signage to encourage community engagement, particularly in areas with limited tree coverage.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava stated that the grant will support initiatives beyond tree planting, including community education on the role of urban forests. She emphasized that informed residents can assist in the maintenance and preservation of local green spaces. Since 2023, DERM's Urban Forestry and Tree Division has planted over 20,000 trees, with a goal of increasing the county’s tree canopy from 20 percent to 30 percent by 2030.
The Florida Forest Service grant is among several recent contributions to the county. Funding from Citizens for a Better South Florida supports activities at historic Camp Choee, a site that has undergone restoration since being acquired from the Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida. Additionally, Athletic Brewing Company, through its Two for the Trails conservation grant, is backing initiatives to involve the community with the 14-acre pine rockland forest.
Loren Parra, DERM Director and Miami-Dade County’s Chief Resilience Officer, outlined the functions of the county’s urban tree canopy, such as providing heat mitigation, enhancing property values through landscaping, and improving stormwater absorption to help manage flooding. He also mentioned the role of community participation in sustaining and protecting the canopy, with grants supporting related education and engagement initiatives.
