California Canopy Equity

The California Canopy Equity (CCE) is a pass-through grant program administered by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to expand and maintain urban tree canopy in underserved communities across California. The program is designed to fulfill two IRA Urban and Community Forestry grant types: Urban Forest Expansion and Improvement and Urban Forest Equity Capacity Building. By partnering with the Hispanic Arborist Association and the Hispanic Access Foundation, the project specifically aims to increase support for Spanish-speaking communities. The initiative focuses on disadvantaged and low-income census tracts, providing nonprofits with funding for community-driven projects that include climate-appropriate species selection, tree inventories, feasible budgets, and long-term care plans. Operating under a teaching-style grant model, the CCE provides comprehensive technical assistance to subrecipients in project development, community engagement, and implementation to build capacity for nonprofits serving climate-vulnerable populations. The project is implemented statewide, with specific focus on areas including Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Fresno, San Joaquin, and Alameda. From an environmental standpoint, the project is classified under a Notice of Exemption for minor alterations to land, indicating no significant adverse environmental impacts. Administrative oversight is managed through CAL FIRE Headquarters in Sacramento.