A big boost for ReLeaf effort

Last week U.S. Sec. of Agriculture Tom Vilsack came to Cedar Rapids to announce a $6 million award for the effort to replace trees lost to the derecho and to plant trees in urban areas that haven’t benefited from tree cover in the past.

It’s a boost for the ReLeaf program, a collaboration between the city of Cedar Rapids and Trees Forever. The $37 million program and partnership were formed after the August 2020 derecho downed 669,000 trees in Cedar Rapids, two thirds of the city’s total tree canopy.

Federal funding was made available through the Inflation Reduction Act, providing $1.13 billion in grants for tree planting administered by the U.S. Forest Service.

“What really struck me was how comprehensive and how excited and how passionate people are for this program in Cedar Rapids,” Vilsack said citing numerous taking part in ReLeaf. “I certainly appreciate the fact that a good part of the resources are going to be focused initially on those areas that in the past may not even have had the benefit of trees or if they did, they were fairly scarce.”

Trees are important in many ways. The shade they provide in summer months can keep homes and buildings cooler, reducing energy usage and cost. Trees help absorb stormwater runoff and hold soil in place. They provide wildlife habitat. And they bring beauty to neighborhoods.

ReLeaf includes a focus on environmental equity. The program aims to plant trees in neighborhoods that had few trees before the derecho. It’s a chance to bring the benefits of Trees to neighborhoods who need them, expanding the city’s tree canopy beyond what was lost in the derecho.

ReLeaf still faces a long road, and more funding is needed. The city is pitching in $1 million annually for 10 years, plus funds for watering and tree maintenance. “We know that the path to fully meeting our urban forestry needs here in Cedar Rapids and throughout the country will require ongoing federal support, potentially spanning several years … and many additional sources of funding,” Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell said.

It was community cooperation and city leaders working from the earliest hours after the derecho on finding funding and developing a detailed plan that helped secure this round of federal funding. If that cooperation continues with the help of Cedar Rapids residents, ReLeaf’s ambitious goal can be realized.

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