JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Six Mississippi communities will soon receive support to make their cities greener.
The Mississippi Forestry Commission (MFC) announced Friday that they and Green Infrastructure Center, Inc. (GIC) have awarded urban forest planning and tree planting across the state. The program, known as the Trees for Restoration, Ecology, Economy and Society in Mississippi (TREES MS) Assistance Program, is funded by the Inflation Reduction Act. TREES MS expands the similar mission of the MFC Urban and Community Forestry Program.
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The USDA Forest Service will distribute the funds and provide three years of comprehensive technical assistance. Starting this year and continuing through 2025, programs will focus on disadvantaged neighborhoods in the following cities:
It will later be expanded to:
- Love and
- Kosciusko
- Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson is excited about the upcoming collaboration and the benefits it will bring to The Little Easy.
“The maps, policy review and recommendations will provide valuable data for our community, helping us strategically plan where and how to best grow our canopy cover,” Gibson said.
TREES MS will ensure equitable access to these new trees and the many benefits they provide. Such benefits include cleaner air and water, cooler summer temperatures, lower utility bills, reduced flooding and erosion, more vibrant economic development, and increased property values. These new trees will also provide vital habitat for wildlife, as well as new leisure and recreation venues for people.
The GIC will guide communities participating in the TREES MS Assistance Program through a gradual process to advance local community and urban forestry programs, including:
- review of codes and ordinances
- community participation and education
- ecosystem services modeling
- prioritizing strategies
- setting tree canopy targets
- planting trees in public spaces
- tree canopy mapping and assessment
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Taking good care of trees also makes communities safer and more resilient. GIC Community Forestry Planner Emary Smith will work directly with communities to achieve this.
“Decisions about our urban forests are made every day by homeowners, developers and community planners, so we need their participation in making plans for how to grow the urban forest,” Smith said in a statement from MFC press.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted the highest number of named storms, hurricanes and major hurricanes ever recorded for the 2024 hurricane season. This makes many anxious about having trees around buildings. According to Misty Booth, GIC Community Forester, the damage caused to trees can be prevented or mitigated.
“When trees are well maintained, they are less likely to fall or lose a branch during a storm,” Booth said.
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