DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is providing grants to disadvantaged schools across Iowa to plant trees. 

The department received $105,000 to give to schools this year. The funds were provided by the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters 2023 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). 

Each school can receive up to $5,000. Half of the grant must be used to purchase trees, and the other half can be used for supplies like mulch and water. 

A school is eligible for the grant if they are in a disadvantaged community, or if 25% or more of its student population receives free or reduced lunch. 

There are many benefits to planting trees, according to the DNR. The most obvious is the monetary advantages. Trees provide shade in the summer and block wind in the winter, saving heating and cooling costs. However, the benefits go far beyond money.

“We’ve learned through studies that trees that are planted around schools, that students’ testing scores are higher, there’s less anxiety with students, there’s less bullying, and that [they] can be used for an outdoor classroom.  And students do real well outdoors, learning that way,” said DNR Urban Forestry Specialist, Chip Murrow. 

Murrow also said this initiative is a benefit to Iowa because it will help add to the number of trees across the entire state. The state lost around 4.5 million trees after the derecho swept across Iowa four years ago, and millions more were lost to the emerald ash borer invasion.

Schools can apply for the grant online by 4 p.m. on March 21. Award recipients will be notified on April 1st and schools can plant trees until June. 

This is the second year the DNR is providing this program. Last year, 21 schools took part.