State marks Earth Week with grant program

With a theme of “Investment in Our Planet,” the state celebrated Earth Week by launching a new blue and green carbon grant program that will invest $15 million in projects across the Garden State.

The goal is to create, restore and enhance salt marshes, sea grass beds, forests and urban parks to help in the fight against climate change.

“Climate change is the greatest long-term threat to New Jersey’s people, communities, and economy,” said Gov. Phil Murphy. “This year’s Earth Week theme of investing in our planet is reflective of New Jersey’s values as we aim to set an example for the nation.”

The grant program is funded through auction proceeds the state received through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. States receive those monies to fund projects and initiatives that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Natural solutions are important because they have the potential to do so much more than sequester carbon,” said New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Associate Commissioner for Science and Policy Katrina Angarone. “Trees planted in our urban areas also help cool our cities, clean our air, provide habitat, reduce flooding and provide green spaces in highly urbanized spaces. Restored tidal wetlands provide important wildlife and fisheries habitat and can increase the resilience of our coastal areas. These projects have the potential to be a win several times over for communities on the front lines of climate change.”

The grants will range from $250,000 to $5 million. Applicants have until July 13 to submit for consideration and will have to demonstrate that the projects will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Entities permitted to apply include:

• State, county and local government units within New Jersey, including state government agencies and school boards
• State universities and colleges
• Interstate agencies of which New Jersey is a member
• Private landowners owning property in New Jersey
• Local nonprofit organizations

Eligible projects include those that:

• Prevent erosion of carbon rich soils in littoral (nearshore zones) of the state, including tidal wetlands
• Restore tidal flows to salt marshes, with a focus on increasing salinity to decrease production of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas
• Increase the cover of native salt marsh vegetation in brackish and salt water tidal wetlands to sequester carbon
• Restore degraded forests or former agricultural areas with resilient native vegetation
• Establish and maintain trees in urban areas while reducing impervious cover and promoting ground water recharge

The NJDEP is scheduled to hold a public information session on May 19.^.