New York state has been awarded $13.5 million in federal funding in an effort to support urban and community forestry, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Friday.

The funding, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program, aims to increase equitable access to trees and green spaces in urban and community forests.

“New York’s urban and community forests play an extremely important role in our environment and ensuring that all neighborhoods and communities have access to the benefits that trees provide, including in addressing the threats of our changing climate,” Hochul said in a statement. “Thanks to this historic level of funding announced under President Biden and his Administration, we take another major step towards investing in and improving our environment and enhancing community green space for the next generations.”

Officials say the $13.5 million will be managed by the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and will be used to provide grant opportunities through New York’s Urban and Community Forestry Program. The state says the grant application period will open soon. Ten million dollars in grants will go toward supporting community forest management plan implementation, with $2.9 million supportting ash tree management.

The funding is part of a $1.5-billion federal investment in urban and community forestry projects across the U.S. More than $73.5 million is being allotted for 28 forestry projects in New York state.