FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/strong> Contact: <\/strong> \u201cPlanting and caring for trees help our students learn about ecosystems and the valuable role trees play. The Trees for Schools program will foster positive connections between students and the trees in their community with the goal of cultivating a lifelong respect for trees,\u201d said Randall Solomon, director of Sustainable Jersey<\/strong>. \u201cThe Trees for Schools program will provide schools, colleges and universities with the resources they need to expand their campus tree canopy while allowing students this important connection.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOn this Arbor Day, we are sharing with our children\u00a0an appreciation\u00a0for the importance of trees in keeping our environment healthy,\u201d said Long Branch Mayor John Pallone<\/strong>. \u201cThese new trees at the Morris Avenue School are great reminders of the lessons in sustainability our children are learning thanks to the support of the DEP, TCNJ and Sustainable Jersey.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMorris Avenue students and staff are excited to help our environment by adding trees to our grounds,\u201d said Matt Johnson, principal of the Morris Avenue Early Childhood Learning Center.<\/strong>\u00a0 \u201cOur students have enjoyed learning about the importance of trees.\u00a0 This tree planting event demonstrates the importance of preserving the environment for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n The program is funded through New Jersey\u2019s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative<\/a>, a multi-state, market-based program that establishes a regional cap on carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel power plants. Proceeds from cap auctions are used to fund programs that benefit the environment. This grant program aligns with the priorities set forth in New Jersey\u2019s RGGI Strategic Funding Plan<\/a>, which supports the State\u2019s commitment to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions, transition to clean energy, and improve environmental conditions in communities that have been disproportionately burdened by pollution.<\/p>\n New Jersey public schools, school districts, county colleges and state colleges and universities are encouraged to review the grant application and materials: https:\/\/www.sustainablejerseyschools.com\/grants\/trees-for-schools\/<\/a> Applications are due on July 13, 2023 for spring 2024 plantings.<\/p>\n According to the Arbor Day Foundation, Arbor Day traces its roots to Nebraska, where a newspaper editor, J. Sterling Morton, proposed a holiday to promote planting of trees for windbreaks to keep soil in place, for fuel and building materials, and for shade. Some one million trees were planted that first Arbor Day. Today, Arbor Day is celebrated nationally on the fourth Friday of April to celebrate the many benefits of trees.<\/p>\n About The College of New Jersey<\/strong> About Sustainable Jersey<\/strong> [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 28, 2023 Contact: Lawrence Hajna (609) 984-1795 Vincent Grassi (609) 984-1795 Caryn Shinske (609) 984-1795 ON ARBOR DAY, DEP, TCNJ AND SUSTAINABLE JERSEY LAUNCH TREES FOR SCHOOLS GRANT PROGRAM Tree-planting Grants of up to $500,000 for Public Schools, Colleges and Universities The Trees for Schools program will provide grants […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":113,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"dep-single.php","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[176],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5400","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-176"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5400","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/113"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5400"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5400\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12062,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5400\/revisions\/12062"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5400"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5400"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nApril 28, 2023<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nLawrence Hajna (609) 984-1795
\nVincent Grassi (609) 984-1795
\nCaryn Shinske (609) 984-1795<\/p>\n<\/div>\nON ARBOR DAY, DEP, TCNJ AND SUSTAINABLE JERSEY LAUNCH TREES FOR SCHOOLS GRANT PROGRAM<\/strong>
\nTree-planting Grants of up to $500,000 for Public Schools, Colleges and Universities<\/em><\/h3>\n![\"Arbor](\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/microsoftteams-image-300x189.jpg\")
\u201cDEP is eager to support communities across New Jersey working to expand green space, reduce extreme heat, and improve stormwater management by investing in the resource that helps meet each of these goals\u2014more trees,\u201d said Commissioner LaTourette.<\/strong>\u201cIncreasing tree cover means soaking up more stormwater runoff, providing shade that can reduce heat island effects and energy use, and reducing greenhouse gases that fuel climate change by naturally sequestering carbon. As we reflect on the value of our trees this Arbor Day, DEP is making new investments in tree equity to help ensure that all communities better enjoy their beauty and benefits.\u201dUnder the leadership of Commissioner LaTourette, the DEP has prioritized development of parks, green spaces and tree planting in overburdened communities, which studies have shown can be up to 20 degrees hotter in the summer compared to wealthier neighborhoods with more green space.Consistent with the Biden administration\u2019s Justice40 Initiative, 40 percent of the grant funding will be set aside for applicants located in overburdened communities<\/a>, with preference given to schools with the highest impervious surface coverage (i.e. paved surfaces such as paved areas and buildings) and lowest tree coverage.<\/p>\n
\nThe College of New Jersey (TCNJ)<\/a> is a highly selective institution that is consistently recognized as one of the top comprehensive colleges in the nation. Founded in 1855 as the New Jersey State Normal School, TCNJ maintains the seventh highest four-year graduation rate among all public colleges and universities. The Sustainability Institute at TCNJ<\/a> administers Sustainable Jersey.<\/p>\n
\nSustainable Jersey is a non-profit organization that provides tools, training and financial incentives to support communities as they pursue sustainability programs. Sustainable Jersey participants (municipalities and schools) have successfully implemented and documented more than 23,467 sustainability actions. Sustainable Jersey has provided more than $7.2 million in grants to municipalities, school districts and schools for community-based projects that create healthy and sustainable communities in New Jersey. Sustainable Jersey<\/a> is a certification program for municipalities and Sustainable Jersey for Schools<\/a> is a certification program for public schools. For information from Sustainable Jersey, contact Kristy Ranieri, (973) 762-1510.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n