In April 2011, tornadoes struck many southern U.S. states, taking lives and destroying homes, businesses, and city infrastructure – including thriving community trees. To help restore the many environmental, economic, and social health benefits that trees provided in these storm-struck Georgia communities, the Georgia Tree Council (GTC), in cooperation with the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC), established the Georgia ReLeaf Program to bring community forests back to life by planting trees in public areas such as parks, schools, main streets, and business districts.
In addition to tree planting for storm recovery, the Georgia ReLeaf program also makes funding available for tree planting and tree giveaway projects that contribute to tree equity in underserved communities and/or projects that provide environmental benefits to assist with improving air quality, reducing stormwater runoff, and/or mitigating the effects of urban heat islands.
Program Objectives
The objectives of the Georgia ReLeaf Program are to:
1) Improve the environmental, economic, and social health of Georgia communities
2) Help sustain health and diversity in Georgia’s community forests
3) Improve planning efforts of city administrators, municipal tree departments, and tree boards
4) Contribute to tree equity in under-resourced communities.
5) Increase environmental and health benefits to combat the effects of climate change
For complete grant guidelines and to submit an application, please visit the Georgia ReLeaf page on the Georgia Tree Council’s website. **Applications must be submitted online by September 16, 2022.**
Helpful Resources
Title | Description | Audience | Document Type |
---|---|---|---|
Community Tree Planting and Establishment Guidelines | This Document is intended to aid homeowners and local government staff in planting and directing the establishment and maintenance of community trees. | Community, Community Planner, Educator, GFC Partners, GFC Staff, Homeowner, Landowner | |
GA Tree Owners Manual | From Planting to Maintenance | Community, Community Planner, Educator, GFC Partners, GFC Staff, Homeowner, Landowner | |
GFC and Georgia ReLeaf Grant Program – How to Plant a 5 Gallon Containerized Tree | How to plant a 5 gallon containerized tree from the Southwest Georgia ReLeaf Tree Giveaway. | Video | |
2022 Tree Planting Campaign Guide | This document is a guide to reforesting cities and towns. | Community, Community Planner, Educator, GFC Partners, GFC Staff, Homeowner, Landowner |