The Los Angeles City Council accepted a $1.5 million tree planting grant on June 23 from CalFire that was awarded through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund for California Climate Investments.

Building on five years of state-funded urban forestry grants, LA Sanitation and Environment secured the “Root for the Future” tree planting grant, which will provide funding for the city and its partners to plant 2,000 street trees in low-canopy, disadvantaged communities, create 750 new tree wells and provide water and maintenance for over 1,500 new street trees for three years.

“The disparity between neighborhoods with trees and those without symbolizes the lack of environmental and economic equity in Los Angeles’ neighborhoods,” said Kevin James, president of the Los Angeles Board of Public Works. “Trees aren’t just a climate change issue, they are an equity issue. This ‘Root for the Future’ grant will help the city begin to address both challenges simultaneously.”

The grant money will help the city as it struggles with budget cuts in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

“Trees are at the core of a healthy urban ecosystem. Whether in public or private spaces, trees enrich the biodiversity of local habitats, sequester carbon and help address issues of environmental justice in disadvantaged communities,” said Enrique C. Zaldivar, general manager and executive director of LA Sanitation and Environment.  Residents can sign up to adopt and care for free street trees by visiting lacitysan.org/freetree.