In September 2022, Hurricane Ian struck peninsular Florida with extensive wind, flood, and storm surge impacts, causing significant damage to the urban forest.  While making landfall as a category four hurricane with sustained winds of 150 MPH, this storm had significant and clear direct impacts on the urban tree canopy due to wind damage on the southwest coast of Florida. However, the impacts of this storm spread much further with flooding caused by excessive rain (between five and 20 inches, depending on specific location) and severe erosion in many locations. Hurricane Ian impacted most of peninsular Florida, with urban forest damage stretching from Fort Myers to Jacksonville.

 

The purpose of this program is to improve and reestablish urban forests in 29 counties of the peninsular region of the state that were negatively impacted by Hurricane Ian. The primary goal is to ensure that the urban forest is more resilient to future storms.

 

Applications are being accepted from nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, local governments, and American tribal governments from the following 29 Florida counties: Brevard, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, and Volusia.

 

The electronic pdf application submission deadline is December 20, 2024 by 2:00 p.m.