Maryland Urban and Community Forestry Committee Grants Program

Maryland Urban and Community Forestry Committee Grants Program

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Amount: Up to US $1,000
Last Updated: January 09, 2026

Summary

The Maryland Urban and Community Forestry Committee Grants Program provides funding for community-driven tree planting and educational projects on public lands throughout Maryland. Aimed at enhancing urban forests, the program prioritizes projects that engage organizations rather than individuals, and encourages initiatives that raise public awareness about the benefits of trees. Projects with matching funds are given preference, supporting the overall quality and quantity of the urban tree canopy.

Overview

The Maryland Urban and Community Forestry Committee (MUCFC) Grants program helps community groups fund tree planting and education projects statewide to enhance Maryland’s urban forest. Community tree projects may be organized via schools, service organizations, homeowner organizations or other volunteer-based groups. The tree planting/educational projects must be located on public lands in parks, metropolitan areas, cities or towns. Urban Forestry definition According to the U.S. Census Bureau, an urban area is a place with a population of at least 2,500 people. This definition encompasses a wide range of communities, including most of the cities and towns in Maryland. Forestry refers to individual parks, yards and street trees, as well as forest fragments such as wooded parkland, unimproved lots and naturally regenerating areas. Urban Forests are generally, though not exclusively, thought of as providing economical, ecological and social services like recreation, aesthetics, wildlife habitat, stormwater management, carbon storage and interception of airborne pollutants. This is in addition to the traditional view of forests as primarily providing goods like lumber, pulpwood or firewood. Urban Forest definition The ecosystem that consists of trees and other vegetation including shrubs, vines and groundcovers growing individually, in small groups or under forest conditions on public and private lands in our cities, their suburbs and towns. The urban forest not only provides shade for us and habitat for wildlife, it helps to clean our air and water. Streets, sidewalks, buildings, utilities, and most importantly, people are an integral part of the urban forest.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. All grants will be awarded to organizations rather than to individual citizensAll funded projects must take place on public lands* and not on an individual’s private property.Public Land: land paid for and supported by public tax dollars – can include homeowner association, city, town, county, state or federal land.All funded projects (and applications) must be approved by MUCFC (and signed by your county Forestry Board by the application deadline) before the actual project is begun.Trees planted MUST be registered with the Marylanders Plant Trees Initiative.For Tree Planting Projects:Project can be completed on school grounds or other public landFor Educational / Printing Projects:Project must raise public awareness of the benefits of trees in the urban environment.