CAL FIRE's mission is to protect the people and property of California from the effects of devastating wildfires, promote ecosystem resilience, and enhance forest health through sustainable management practices that address threats like climate change, forest overcrowding, and pest infestations. This mission extends to safeguarding watersheds, promoting carbon storage, and supporting land management strategies that mitigate the impact of extreme disturbance events on forests.
The Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program aims to amplify the long-term benefits trees offer to urban areas, enhance public knowledge and appreciation of urban forestry, and promote superior urban forest management and tree care practices. The program prioritizes projects that serve disadvantaged and/or low-income communities. Through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) Program has allocated $1.5 billion to facilitate equitable access to tree canopy and its various benefits in urban settings, emphasizing support for disadvantaged communities. This initiative seeks to increase community involvement in urban forestry efforts, expand access to urban tree canopy, enhance resilience against climate change and related challenges, and provide avenues into green jobs, especially for communities with low access to urban tree canopy and those facing extreme weather conditions.