Carbon Forestry Trust Receives Largest Grant in Organizations History to Expand Reforestation Across New York

The Carbon Forestry Trust has been awarded its largest grant to

date: a $516,954 award from the New York State Department of Environmental

Conservation (NYSDEC)to establish new forests across three Southern Tier project

sites.

Awarded through NYSDEC’s Established Large Forests (ELF) Program, the funding will

support the planting of tens of thousands of hardwood and softwood trees. The new

forests will capture carbon, improve wildlife habitat, protect water quality, increase

biodiversity, and strengthen New York’s natural landscapes.

The grant marks a major milestone for the Trust, a nonprofit established in 2021 to

accelerate carbon sequestration through strategic reforestation. Working with public

agencies, private landowners, developers, and community partners, the Carbon

Forestry Trust plants forests that deliver lasting environmental benefits while helping

stakeholders meet sustainability and climate goals.

“One of the things I love about reforestation is that it’s an investment that outlasts us

all,” said Jennifer Gillen, Vice-President of the Carbon Forestry Trust. “The trees we

plant today will continue capturing carbon and improving forests for decades to come.

This grant allows us to make that investment on a much larger scale, and we’re grateful

to NYSDEC for its partnership and confidence in our mission.”

The Carbon Forestry Trust’s project supports New York State’s goal of creating large,

healthy forests that store carbon, improve ecosystem resilience, and provide habitat for

native wildlife.