22-03-2025
Tampa Bay tree-planting programs lose federal funding in DEI purge
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Efforts to plant trees using federal dollars in Tampa Bay could be at a standstill. The Trump Administration is looking to eliminate environmental justice programs under the premise of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
There were 183 trees planted in Childs Park in St. Petersburg. And $19,000 from the federal government's U.S. Forest Service was used to accomplish it.
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The same government agency cancelled the funding for a nationwide tree planting program because it no longer aligns with the agency priorities regarding DEI.
'It's hard to believe that trees have anything to do with diversity, equity, and inclusion. I mean we need trees everywhere,' said Pat Fling, the co-chair of the Sierra Club political committee. They advocate for a clean environment and say trees contribute to it.
Fling said not having this funding can hurt some areas.
'It'll be hard for those residents who can't afford to plant trees on their own. Lower income neighborhoods might be closer to commercial businesses which are generating pollution, so trees can help mitigate some of that,' Fling said.
This has been a focal point for Jabaar Edmond. He is the former president of the Childs Park Neighborhood Association.
'The tree planting is an investment for the future more so than an investment right now,' Edmond said. 'We're still battling air quality emissions from factories in our industrial corridor.'
He said it's going to be up to the city and state to fill gaps left by the federal government.
'The reality is sometimes we have to be the ones to issue the grant and not be the ones receiving it,' Edmond said.
The nonprofit Take MAR (More Action for Regeneration) plants trees across Tampa Bay. They say on average, planting one tree can cost between $1,000 to $2,000.
'Trees are expensive, not just for the planting, but also to maintain, and they require labor cost of trees, mulching, fertilizing, etc. So with cities that have more affluent neighborhoods, they have more funding for certain things, so we are also looking at the importance of planting and underserved communities,' said Michelle Ellena, the Co-Founder of Take MAR. 'Looking at communities that trees might not be their first priority but are very necessary in order to, yeah, help with storm protection, flood mitigation air and water quality, and urban heat reduction.'
The Sierra Club mentioned how their organization and others are still counting the number of tree's lost during Hurricanes Helene and Milton. These groups hope people realize the need for newly planted trees and are willing to pay for it.
'It almost feels like a defeat sometimes, but at the same time, trees are resilient, so we're going to be resilient,' Ellena said.
It's unclear where Governor Ron DeSantis stands on federal funding being cut for programs to plant trees. But the governor has been vocal about assessing state spending and bringing in government efficiency.
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