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Home ReleasesMiami-Dade County receives grant to educate the community on growing urban forests

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Miami-Dade County receives grant to educate the community on growing urban forests

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https://www.miamidade.gov/global/environment/home.page 2026-01-26 2026-01-26T13:00:00.000Z 08 00 am Natalia Jaramillo [email protected] Miami-Dade County receives grant to educate the community on growing urban forests Miami-Dade County’s Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) was recently awarded a $25,000 grant by the Florida Forest Service to increase public awareness about the County’s work to expand local urban forests. The grant will support increased community outreach, new educational signage and a catalyst program to develop neighborhood tree leaders. Miami-Dade County’s Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) was recently awarded a $25,000 grant by the Florida Forest Service to increase public awareness about the County’s work growing local urban forests. Since 2023, DERM’s Urban Forestry and Tree Division has planted more than 20,000 trees as part of the County’s Urban Forestry Plan, which aims to expand the tree canopy from the current 20 percent to the goal of 30 percent by 2030. This new grant will fund critical community outreach including new educational signage and a catalyst program to develop neighborhood tree leaders and increased civic engagement. These programs will focus especially on low-shade communities that have lost much of their historic tree cover. “Receiving grants like this allows us to do more than plant trees, it empowers us to educate our community about why our urban forests matter,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “When people understand that growing our tree canopy results in cleaner air, cooler streets, and healthier neighborhoods, they become partners in protecting and nurturing our urban forest.” The award leverages another grant received through Citizens for a Better South Florida to activate historic Camp Choee. Since the County purchased the 14-acre pine rockland forest from Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida, the forested areas have undergone intense restoration. The non-alcoholic Athletic Brewing Company recently awarded its “Two for the Trails” conservation grant to re-engage the community and bring them back to Camp Choee. "Our tree canopy has become a critical part of our local infrastructure by protecting residents from heat, increasing property values through beautification, absorbing stormwater and reducing flooding after rain events,” said DERM Director and Miami-Dade County’s Chief Resilience Officer Loren Parra. “Every resident can play a role in protecting our canopy. And grants like these help us to build both our canopy and a more educated, empowered community.” To read more about Miami-Dade County’s tree planting efforts and the Urban Forestry Plan, visit <a href="https://www.miamidade.gov/global/economy/trees.page" target="_blank" rel="noopener">miamidade.gov/trees</a>. no 2026 00 a.m. 00 a.m. Environmental Resources Management 1 rel1769434273257556 Environmental Resources Management Overtown Transit Village North 701 NW 1st Court Miami 33136 local county miami-dade department department Environmental Resources ManagementDERM Contact Us /global/environment/contact.page https://miamidadecounty.govqa.us/WEBAPP/_rs/(S(tuu0bx5xhnm2pq4rwkbnfvia))/RequestSelect.aspx Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Management The Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) manages today’s growing needs while protecting our environment for tomorrow through responsible governance, smart policy and resource protection. DERM’s authority and responsibility are rooted in both comprehensive local environmental regulation as well as State and Federally mandated legislation. Programs are designed to manage air, water and land resources for the health, safety and enjoyment of current and future residents and visitors. Director Loren Parra Loren Parra Overtown Transit Village North - 701 NW 1st Court [loc1462483157330387] : Miami ^ 33136 loc1462483157330387 305-372-6789 https://www.miamidade.gov/global/environment/home.page

environmental-resources-management org1758634481417277 loc1462483157330387 Overtown Transit Village North 701 NW 1st Court Miami 33136 305-372-6789 https://www.miamidade.gov/global/environment/home.page

MIAMI-DADE ( January 26, 2026 )–

Miami-Dade County’s Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) was recently awarded a $25,000 grant by the Florida Forest Service to increase public awareness about the County’s work growing local urban forests. Since 2023, DERM’s Urban Forestry and Tree Division has planted more than 20,000 trees as part of the County’s Urban Forestry Plan, which aims to expand the tree canopy from the current 20 percent to the goal of 30 percent by 2030. This new grant will fund critical community outreach including new educational signage and a catalyst program to develop neighborhood tree leaders and increased civic engagement. These programs will focus especially on low-shade communities that have lost much of their historic tree cover.

“Receiving grants like this allows us to do more than plant trees, it empowers us to educate our community about why our urban forests matter,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “When people understand that growing our tree canopy results in cleaner air, cooler streets, and healthier neighborhoods, they become partners in protecting and nurturing our urban forest.”

The award leverages another grant received through Citizens for a Better South Florida to activate historic Camp Choee. Since the County purchased the 14-acre pine rockland forest from Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida, the forested areas have undergone intense restoration. The non-alcoholic Athletic Brewing Company recently awarded its “Two for the Trails” conservation grant to re-engage the community and bring them back to Camp Choee.

"Our tree canopy has become a critical part of our local infrastructure by protecting residents from heat, increasing property values through beautification, absorbing stormwater and reducing flooding after rain events,” said DERM Director and Miami-Dade County’s Chief Resilience Officer Loren Parra. “Every resident can play a role in protecting our canopy. And grants like these help us to build both our canopy and a more educated, empowered community.”

To read more about Miami-Dade County’s tree planting efforts and the Urban Forestry Plan, visit miamidade.gov/trees.