Thanks to Minnesota Lottery players, new funding is helping our urban forests grow stronger, healthier, and ready for a changing climate.
Urban trees do more than just look beautiful. They cool our neighborhoods during heat waves, provide shade and comfort on busy streets, filter the air we breathe, and create pockets of nature where people live, work, and go to school. But climate change is putting pressure on these green spaces like never before.
With $752,000 from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF), Great River Greening is launching a project to boost climate resilience in urban tree canopies across the state with the goal of helping communities build forests that can handle heat, drought, pests, and disease while making neighborhoods greener and more livable.
Great River Greening, a nonprofit known for ecological restoration, is partnering with cities and school districts to:
• Growing climate‑ready trees in gravel‑bed nurseries, giving young trees a strong start before they’re planted.
• Mapping and assessing existing urban trees to understand what’s thriving, what’s vulnerable, and where gaps exist.
• Planting new, climate‑resilient species in places like St. Cloud, Mankato, and communities throughout the Twin Cities metro.
The idea is simple: the more diverse, healthy, and well‑prepared our tree populations are, the better they’ll stand up to whatever the future brings.
It’s a powerful example of how lottery dollars contribute to the future of our state. Because when we invest in our trees, we’re investing in healthier communities, cleaner air, and a more resilient Minnesota for everyone. Learn more about how we are Playing Our Part.
