City of Buffalo Receives State Grant

Source/Contact
Office of the Mayor
Peter K. Culter
Director of Communications
716-851-4841

Funds will be used for reforestation throughout city

BUFFALO—The City of Buffalo, in conjunction with Keep Western New York Beautiful, has been awarded a $20,000 state grant for the city's Urban Forest Master Plan and for the reforestation of Buffalo.  The city will work with several community organizations, including the Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Reforest Buffalo Coalition, the Buffalo Green Fund, Buffalo Weed & Seed, the Wellness Institute the Good Neighbors Planning Alliance  to plant trees in targeted areas around the City of Buffalo.

"Buffalo was at one time known as the 'City of Trees,'" said Mayor Byron Brown.  "Through the hard work and dedication of Keep Western New York Beautiful and community volunteers, we have seen thousands of trees planted over the last several years.  This grant will ensure that the reforestation master plan – the city's Urban and Community Forestry Project – will continue and that Buffalo will again be known as the 'City of Trees.'"

Thousands of trees have been planted on the Olmsted Parkways and in city parks, as well as in the downtown area thanks to this program. 

"We have been working hard on improving the urban forest for future generations," said Jim Pavel, Executive Director of Keep Western New York Beautiful.  "Right now we are in the midst of a ten year plan to reforest the city.  This grant will help us continue this important work." 

Not only are the trees beautiful, but trees are also beneficial to the economy.  Recent studies show that the City of Buffalo has a 12% canopy cover from existing trees.  The trees annually remove 335,000 pounds of pollutants from the city's air.  According to the American Forests this benefit can be valued at $826,000.  Also, the city's trees help with the city's storm water runoff.  The trees collect and slow the runoff into the sewer system, which prevents overload.  The same study by American Forest suggests millions of dollars can be saved on storm sewer repairs because of the trees.

The Buffalo Office of Strategic Planning has integrated landscaping into city revitalization projects and is engaged in planning activities that directly involve green infrastructure and streetscapes.  City reforestation is consistent with the city's recently adopted comprehensive plan, "Queen City in the 21^st Century," the award-winning regional action plan for downtown Buffalo, "Queen City Hub," the Waterfront Urban Renewal Plan and the Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan.