ERIE COUNTY, NY— The Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation & Forestry has been awarded two grants from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (“NYSDEC”), with one grant of $24,000 designated for use in an Erie County Tree Inventory Project at Ellicott Creek and Elma Meadows Parks and another grant of $18,240 designated for use in the Erie County Parks Tree Management Plan, which is specific to Akron Falls Park and Como Park. The Tree Inventory Project, which helps determine the health, diversity, and concentrations of various types of trees in Erie County’s parks, began after the Parks Department received a $24,000 NYSDEC Tree Inventory Grant to start the Project in 2012.

“An effective management plan starts with an understanding of what is in the inventory, what its status is and where it’s located. In this case, we’re assessing the trees under the stewardship of the Erie County Parks department for their health and any challenges they may face, and taking a critical and comprehensive look at Erie County’s tree stock in the process,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “This inventory, along with the developing management plan that will be built from its findings, has never been done before in Erie County but is sorely needed. I want to thank Commissioner Schinzel and his staff for their hard work in securing these grants and helping to gain better insights into the health and vibrancy of our natural areas, which will help greatly in preserving them long-term.”

“The Inventory Project and corresponding Management Plan will help in mapping out where our natural assets are, identifying any invasive threats or environmental issues that may be encroaching on them, and giving us a more comprehensive understanding of our arboreal resources,” said Parks Commissioner Troy P. Schinzel. “Ideally, the Tree Inventory and subsequent Tree Management Plan will provide us all the necessary information to not only better maintain our resources but plan and budget accordingly. I want to thank our colleagues in the Department of Environment & Planning for their assistance in securing these grants, as well as county Forester Ed Kowalski for his input and guidance. With these grants we are taking big steps towards securing the health of Erie County’s wooded areas for generations to come.”

A total of 145 grant applications were received by NYSDEC, each evaluated on a competitive basis and awarded funding if successful. Erie County, one of only two NYS counties awarded grants this year, is the only county to receive two awards in this round of funding. The grants, provided to communities through NYS’s Environmental Protection Fund (“EPF”), are part of New York State’s ongoing initiative to address climate change and environmental justice. Projects receiving funding target local environmental needs and benefit the local community and environment. Other 2015 recipients include projects on Long Island for reforestation in areas affected by Superstorm Sandy, as well as efforts to restore forest canopy lost because of invasive species such as the Emerald Ash Borer.

For more information: On the Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation & Forestry, visit http://www2.erie.gov/parks/ On the Erie County Department of Environment & Planning, visit http://www2.erie.gov/environment/ # # #