Resources for
forest
Guidance Tool
Level of Effort:
Climate Action Tool
The 2025 expansion of the Climate Action Tool (CAT) allows you to:
1) Access information on climate impacts and vulnerability of species and habitats; and
2) Explore adaptation strategies and actions, related to connectivity, conservation planning, and forestry, among other relevant areas.
This tool was developed by the Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center and the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass) Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment.
Guidance Tool
Level of Effort:
Climate Action Tool
The 2025 expansion of the Climate Action Tool (CAT) allows you to:
1) Access information on climate impacts and vulnerability of species and habitats; and
2) Explore adaptation strategies and actions, related to connectivity, conservation planning, and forestry, among other relevant areas.
This tool was developed by the Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center and the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass) Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment.
max $30,000
Urban Forest Resilience Grant Program
With support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, CT DEEP’s Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) Program is offering funding to support the removal of dead, declining, or hazardous trees and replanting to restore tree cover and improve long-term forest health.
Eligible activities include: 1) Removal of dead, hazardous, or declining trees; 2) Stump removal and site preparation; 3) Tree planting to meet the required 1:2 replacement ratio. Projects must demonstrate how removals will restore forest health and contribute to long-term, measurable canopy gains in low-canopy communities. Total funding of $230,000 is available for CT municipalities with membership in the Tree Wardens' Association of Connecticut.
max $30,000
Urban Forest Resilience Grant Program
With support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, CT DEEP’s Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) Program is offering funding to support the removal of dead, declining, or hazardous trees and replanting to restore tree cover and improve long-term forest health.
Funding
: Jun 16 – Apr 30, 2026
max $100K
Climate-Smart Forest Stewardship Grant Program
CLCC’s Climate-Smart Forest Stewardship Grant Program is a new initiative that enables land trusts to take care of their forests. To help land trusts face these challenges, CLCC will provide funding for land trusts that integrate climate mitigation, resilience, and adaptation strategies into their long-term forest stewardship.
Projects must take place in a USFS-defined rural area. Applicants must be current members of CLCC. Interested applicants must have an initial conversation with CLCC to discuss project eligibility. Site visits are strongly encouraged prior to submitting an application.
Funding
: Jun 16 – Apr 30, 2026
max $100K
Climate-Smart Forest Stewardship Grant Program
CLCC’s Climate-Smart Forest Stewardship Grant Program is a new initiative that enables land trusts to take care of their forests. To help land trusts face these challenges, CLCC will provide funding for land trusts that integrate climate mitigation, resilience, and adaptation strategies into their long-term forest stewardship.
Mapper
Level of Effort:
The Long Island Sound and Watershed Metadata Map Application
The Long Island Sound watershed is home to nearly 9 million people in parts of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Canada. Government agencies, nonprofits, and Tribal Nations have overseen numerous projects to monitor and protect the water resources of this watershed and the sound. Although there is an abundance of data, there is no easy way to search them or a central place to manage this information. To help, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Long Island Sound Study have created an interactive map to help users find and understand data about the water resources of the Long Island Sound and its watershed.
This mapping tool does not host data or maintain data repositories. Instead, it compiles and presents metadata from publicly accessible databases managed by State and other organizations.
Refer to this fact sheet for details about the application and its data sources: The Long Island Sound and Watershed Metadata map application
Mapper
Level of Effort:
The Long Island Sound and Watershed Metadata Map Application
The Long Island Sound watershed is home to nearly 9 million people in parts of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Canada. Government agencies, nonprofits, and Tribal Nations have overseen numerous projects to monitor and protect the water resources of this watershed and the sound. Although there is an abundance of data, there is no easy way to search them or a central place to manage this information. To help, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Long Island Sound Study have created an interactive map to help users find and understand data about the water resources of the Long Island Sound and its watershed.
This mapping tool does not host data or maintain data repositories. Instead, it compiles and presents metadata from publicly accessible databases managed by State and other organizations.
Refer to this fact sheet for details about the application and its data sources: The Long Island Sound and Watershed Metadata map application
Funding
: Jun 9 – Aug 31, 2025
up to $200,000
Trees for Communities Grant Program
The Trees for Communities Grant Program supports urban forestry projects that will increase tree cover or contribute to other urban forestry objectives such as improvement of forest health or utilization of urban wood in communities of need. Recent awardee projects can be found here: Urban and Community Forestry Grant Accomplishments.
Potential projects include but are not limited to: (1) Tree planting, stewardship, and maintenance; (2) Planning projects (e.g. tree inventories and forest management plans); (3) Workforce development; (4) Invasive species management; and (5) Urban wood utilization.
Funding
: Jun 9 – Aug 31, 2025
up to $200,000
Trees for Communities Grant Program
The Trees for Communities Grant Program supports urban forestry projects that will increase tree cover or contribute to other urban forestry objectives such as improvement of forest health or utilization of urban wood in communities of need. Recent awardee projects can be found here: Urban and Community Forestry Grant Accomplishments.
Story Map
Connections to Long Island Sound
Created by UConn CLEAR in partnership with the Long Island Sound Study, this Population and Demographic Story Map explores the land and people in the Long Island Sound Watershed. From Canada down to the northern coast of Long Island, the watershed is a vastly diverse area in both land and people, populated by nearly 9 million people and characterized by farms, forests, urban centers, beaches, marshes and more. This story map showcases how the Sound is an integral part of the lives of those who live, work, and visit the region every day.
Story Map
Connections to Long Island Sound
Created by UConn CLEAR in partnership with the Long Island Sound Study, this Population and Demographic Story Map explores the land and people in the Long Island Sound Watershed. From Canada down to the northern coast of Long Island, the watershed is a vastly diverse area in both land and people, populated by nearly 9 million people and characterized by farms, forests, urban centers, beaches, marshes and more. This story map showcases how the Sound is an integral part of the lives of those who live, work, and visit the region every day.
Resource
Level of Effort:
Conservation Commissions and Natural Resource Resilience
This fact sheet for Conservation Commissions in Connecticut reviews the role of these commissions for enhancing the climate resilience of their communities. The resource was developed by CIRCA and covers the authority and duties of conservation commissions as well as detailing specific strategies and approaches.
Resource
Level of Effort:
Conservation Commissions and Natural Resource Resilience
This fact sheet for Conservation Commissions in Connecticut reviews the role of these commissions for enhancing the climate resilience of their communities. The resource was developed by CIRCA and covers the authority and duties of conservation commissions as well as detailing specific strategies and approaches.
Funding
: Jun 15, 2026
max $150K
Resilient Forestry Practices Grant
Municipally-owned woodlands play a vital role in supporting well-functioning natural systems and a high quality of life for Connecticut residents. They improve air and water quality, support a variety of plant and wildlife species, strengthen landscape health and resilience, and provide recreational and other community benefits. These forests, however, face growing threats to their health from pests, diseases, invasive species, extreme weather events, and other stressors. Many of these stressors and threats can be managed or mitigated through resilient forestry practices.
With support from the Inflation Reduction Act, CT DEEP’s Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) Program has $1 million available to help rural communities in Connecticut implement resilient forestry practices.
Federally recognized tribes or rural municipalities with a population less than 50,000 are eligible. Because practices must be supported by an appropriate level of forest planning, a forest management or stewardship plan completed by a Connecticut-certified forester is required for funding. Potential applicants who do not currently have a forest management plan or whose plan does not include eligible resilient forestry practices may still apply for funding by working with a CT DEEP Service Forester to develop a Practice Plan prior to applying.
Funding
: Jun 15, 2026
max $150K
Resilient Forestry Practices Grant
Municipally-owned woodlands play a vital role in supporting well-functioning natural systems and a high quality of life for Connecticut residents. They improve air and water quality, support a variety of plant and wildlife species, strengthen landscape health and resilience, and provide recreational and other community benefits. These forests, however, face growing threats to their health from pests, diseases, invasive species, extreme weather events, and other stressors. Many of these stressors and threats can be managed or mitigated through resilient forestry practices.
With support from the Inflation Reduction Act, CT DEEP’s Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) Program has $1 million available to help rural communities in Connecticut implement resilient forestry practices.