In October 2018, Hurricane Michael caused widespread devastation in southwest Georgia 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 Forestry Commission (GFC) and the Georgia Tree Council (GTC), working in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, are offering a special edition of the Georgia ReLeaf Program. Through this program, we will work with eligible communities and organizations in southwest Georgia to restore community tree canopy impacted by Hurricane Michael by providing free trees for residents to plant near their homes.
Program Objectives
The objectives of the Southwest Georgia ReLeaf Program are to:
1) Reestablish and improve the health and diversity the tree canopy in southwest Georgia communities
2) Restore the environmental, economic, and social health benefits provided by trees in these communities.
3) Provide tree care education
4) Promote sustainability and equitability of reforestation efforts in storm-impacted communities.
Program Overview
Communities and organizations in southwest Georgia are encouraged to plan and host tree distribution events at which homeowners and residents will be given small containerized trees to plant in their yards. GFC and GTC will provide the trees at no cost. The trees will be in 5 gallon containers and consist of a variety of species and sizes at maturity (over-story, mid-story, and understory). GFC will provide educational materials such as flyers detailing species information, links to instructional planting videos, and other tree care information that can be provided to homeowners and residents.
Eligible Organizations
Non-profit organizations, units of local government (city, town, county), or educational institutions located in the following southwest Georgia counties:
Baker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Calhoun, Chattahoochee, Clay, Colquitt, Cook, Crawford, Crisp, Decatur, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Houston, Irwin, Lanier, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marion, Miller, Mitchell, Peach, Pulaski, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Seminole, Stewart, Sumter, Taylor, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Turner, Webster, Wilcox, Worth
Project Timeframe
- Application must be e-mailed to marylynne@gatreecouncil.org by August 6, 2021.
- Recipients will be notified by August 31, 2021. Approved projects can begin only after agreements are signed by the project organizer and the Georgia Tree Council.
- Events must occur between October 15, 2021 and February 27, 2022. (Georgia’s Arbor Day will be February 18, 2022)
E-mail completed applications to marylynne@gatreecouncil.org by August 6, 2021.
Questions?
Contact Mary Lynne Beckley at 470-210-5900 or
Joan Scales at 478-733-2604 jscales@gfc.state.ga.us
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