Tree planting

• Funding covers up to 50% of eligible project costs.
• The maximum grant per tree planting project is $10 million.
• The maximum funding for infrastructure activity associated with a project is $1 million per municipality over the lifetime of the program.
• There is a minimum project value of $50,000 in eligible costs to qualify for funding.
• For each funded project, 10% of the grant amount (up to $100,000) is withheld and released upon submission of a maintenance and monitoring report one year after planting completion.

• The applicant must be a Canadian municipal government, Indigenous organization, not-for-profit (registered in Canada), or for-profit/private sector entity incorporated or registered in Canada.
• Non-municipal organizations must have a partnership in place with a Canadian municipality, supported by a municipal council resolution.
• The project must involve incremental tree planting that exceeds normal municipal planting activities and is not required by legislation.
• The project must result in a new tree planting initiative with direct municipal government involvement and accountability.
• The project must be completed within three years of approval (including planting, maintenance, and monitoring activities).

Who is eligible?

• Canadian municipal governments (including towns, cities, regions, districts, and local boards)
• Organizations applying in partnership with a municipal government (such as municipal corporations, regional organizations delivering municipal services, Indigenous organizations or communities, not-for-profit organizations registered in Canada, and for-profit organizations or private-sector entities incorporated or registered in Canada)

Who is not eligible

• Homeowners (individuals acting in a personal capacity)
• Federal government entities and organizations established by them
• Provincial and territorial government entities and any corporations owned or controlled by them
• Organizations not partnered with a Canadian municipality or unable to provide municipal support documentation
• Projects where tree planting is legally required (e.g., as a condition of impact assessment or following commercial activity)

Eligible expenses

• Direct costs related to tree planting activities.
• Site preparation expenses, including soil preparation and related activities.
• Acquisition, installation, or modification of permanent physical infrastructure (such as sidewalks, soil cells, irrigation systems, or utilities) directly associated with tree planting.
• Purchase of tree stock and planting materials.
• Equipment rental and services associated with tree planting and infrastructure installation.
• Costs for professional services, such as arborists, foresters, biologists, ecologists, landscape architects, or horticulturalists, directly related to project planning and implementation.
• Monitoring and maintenance costs incurred up to one year after planting completion (as part of the reporting requirement).

Eligible geographic areas

• Municipalities and organizations located anywhere in Canada, with specific requirements for Quebec municipalities regarding application procedures.
• Organizations operating within the jurisdictional boundaries of any Canadian municipality.
• Projects must not take place on federally owned land.
• For municipalities including Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal East, Joliette (residential), Vaudreuil-Dorion, Sudbury, Gatineau, and Niagara, alternate funding may be available; confirmation is required.

• Connection to long-term forest management and planning objectives (5%)
• Project preparation and planning (10%)
• Engagement strategy (10%)
• Right tree for chosen environment to promote tree survival and forest resilience (20%)
• Maintenance plan (20%)
• Community climate change resilience (10%)
• Socio-economic benefits (10%)
• Biodiversity and ecosystem health (10%)
• Other environmental benefits (5%)

• A 10% hold-back (up to $100,000) of the grant amount will be released only after submission of a maintenance and monitoring report one year post-planting.
• Eligible projects may receive support from urban forestry professionals for coaching and technical guidance during the application process.
• The use of the application portal requires creating a client profile to submit required documents.
• External peer reviewers and an internal team will review applications before a final decision by the Board of Directors, and site audits may be conducted for a sample of funded projects.