Urban forestry plans and studies
Funding to strengthen the planning, management and stewardship of urban forests
TREES
Read the guide for more information on creating a successful application.
Download the application guideFunding Snapshot
- Funding for up to 80%* of eligible costs
- Grant up to a maximum of $175,000**
The following are eligible for GMF funding:
- Municipal governments in Quebec (e.g., towns, cities, regions, districts and local boards)
- Eligible to apply alone or in collaboration with other eligible municipal governments
Your plan or study must focus on the forests and trees in your community and be part of one or more of the following categories:
- urban forest strategy or plan
- tree planting strategy or plan
- urban forestry policy or guideline
- urban forestry community engagement strategy or plan
- urban forest assessment and analysis
The deadline to submit an application for this funding is:
For Quebec municipal applicants: starting May 27 until September 15, 2026.
We will accept and approve applications as they are received, and so you are encouraged to apply as soon as your application is complete. The Green Municipal Fund reserves the right to close the call for applications once funding has been fully allocated.
*See the Eligible costs.
**Municipalities are only eligible to receive funding for one Urban forestry plan or study.
*The following applicants may qualify for additional funding of eligible project costs:
- Municipalities with populations fewer than 10,000, northern and remote communities will receive a cost share of 90%
- Municipalities applying in partnership with an Indigenous community will receive a cost share of 100%
Northern community: A community located in the North, which in the context of GMF funding is defined as the three territories and the northern portion of the following seven provinces, as defined by Statistics Canada codes: Newfoundland and Labrador (10), Québec (24), Ontario (35), Manitoba (46), Saskatchewan (47), Alberta (48) and British Columbia (59).
Remote community: In the context of GMF funding, communities listed on the Canada Revenue Agency list of places located in prescribed zones (formerly referred to as “Northern communities”).
Indigenous community: In the context of GMF funding, an Indigenous community (which includes First Nations, Métis and Inuit) is eligible to apply if a province or territory has passed an act or a regulation that affords a community the status of a municipality, if the Indigenous community is undertaking an eligible project in partnership with a municipal government, or if the Indigenous community has a shared service agreement for any purpose with a municipal government related to municipal infrastructure, climate change or adaptation.
What we fund
We fund plans or studies focused on the sustainable expansion and resilience of community forests and trees, such as urban forest management plans. Your plan or study must contribute to future tree planting initiatives in your community.
Your plan or study must outline how your community will implement the results of this work to make real, measurable changes. It must also consider socio-economic benefits, community climate change resilience, biodiversity and ecosystem health.
Your community can receive funding for plans and studies that will prioritize equity-deserving communities and address systematic inequalities in tree planting locations, resource distribution and access to the long-term benefits of trees and urban green spaces.
What your plan or study needs to achieve
Your plan or study must focus on the forests and trees in your community, and it will need to be characterized as one of the following categories of eligible plans or studies.
This list is not exhaustive, and we encourage municipalities to explore projects that align with their unique urban forestry challenges and community needs.
- Urban forest strategy or plan
These are long-term strategies or action plans to manage, enhance and protect the entire urban forest.
For example:
- urban forest strategy or management plan (or update to an existing strategy or plan)
- urban forest operational plan (e.g. implementation, long-term maintenance, monitoring)
- urban forest asset management plan
- Tree planting strategy or plan
These are strategies or plans specifically aimed at guiding community-wide or regional tree planting efforts, with a focus on achieving strategic tree planting goals and priorities, such as increasing tree abundance.
For example:
- tree planting strategy or framework
- tree planting master plan
- Urban forestry policy or guideline
These are policies or guidelines that help shape effective urban forestry policies, such as those that govern tree preservation, planting and maintenance.
For example:
- tree or urban forest bylaws
- technical guidelines, manuals, standards and specifications
- urban forestry best-practices and operational design standards
- Urban forestry community engagement strategy or plan
These are plans to involve community members in urban forest management and education.
For example:
- urban forest collaboration and partnership plans (e.g. engagement plans for Rightsholders and other relevant groups)
- community education and engagement strategy
- capacity building strategy for tree planting and maintenance
- Urban forest assessment and analysis
These are projects that involve gathering, analyzing and assessing data and information to better understand and manage urban forests.
For example:
- tree inventory
- land cover analysis (e.g. canopy cover, plantable area)
- planting site inventory
- canopy growth modelling
- planting prioritization study (e.g. urban heat, equity)
- forest structure and function study (e.g. biodiversity, connectivity, ecosystem services)
- urban forest climate vulnerability assessment
- urban forest current conditions assessment/baseline analysis (e.g. criteria and indicators assessment)
- urban tree risk assessment (e.g. environmental, financial)
Required documents
Required documents will differ depending on the type of applicant. See the application guide for details.
Question 1
Funding for Urban forestry plans and studies is only available to municipalities in Quebec.
Check out our resources for practical, hands-on tools and knowledge that can support your community’s efforts to expand its canopy.
Sign up for FCM Connect to stay informed about GMF funding, resources and training.
Discover other GMF funding available to local governments to fund infrastructure and support a net-zero Canada.
Question 1a
Funding for Urban forestry plans and studies is only available to municipalities in Quebec.
Check out our resources for practical, hands-on tools and knowledge that can support your community’s efforts to expand its canopy.
Sign up for FCM Connect to stay informed about GMF funding, resources and training.
Discover other GMF funding available to local governments to fund infrastructure and support a net-zero Canada.
Question 2
Question 3
Question 4
It sounds like you have the start of an excellent project.
Download the application guide and confirm your eligibility by completing the pre-application form through FCM’s funding portal and following the instructions in the application guide to complete it.
Please see Quebec municipalities application information for the next steps.
To further discuss your application, contact a GMF representative to schedule an appointment:
1-877-417-0550
No recommendation
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Application process
Step 1: Readiness check
Before applying, please complete the Readiness check to find out if your plan or study could be eligible for funding and to learn about next steps.
Step 2: Pre-application completion and submission
After you have completed the Readiness check and determined that your project may be eligible, download the application guide.
Then, obtain a pre-application form through FCM’s funding portal. Once you have completed this form, submit it through the funding portal. To do this, create a client profile in the portal and follow the instructions listed there.
Supporting documents are not required at the pre-application stage. They will need to be submitted with your full application.
IMPORTANT: If you are a municipality from Quebec, please see Quebec municipalities application information.
Step 3: Eligibility determination
A GMF representative will review your pre-application and determine whether your organization and project are eligible to proceed to the next step of the application process. You should receive a response within five business days of the date we receive your pre-application.
IMPORTANT: Even if your organization and project are deemed eligible to move forward with a full application, it does not guarantee that your project will be approved for funding.
Step 4: Full application completion and submission
If your organization and project are deemed eligible to proceed, your GMF representative will inform you that the full application form is available through FCM’s funding portal. They will also provide you with a project workbook to complete.
As you complete the application and the workbook, contact your GMF representative if you have questions or need help. Once you’ve filled out the application form and project workbook and attached the required supporting documents found in the application guide, submit all of this information through FCM’s funding portal.
Step 5: GMF project officer review
Once your full application is submitted, a GMF project officer will be assigned to your file and will review your application for accuracy and completeness. They will work with you to resolve any questions and be your point of contact throughout the rest of the application and funding decision process.
Step 6: Peer and internal review
Following an external peer review and an internal analysis of your full application, a funding recommendation is made by GMF to FCM’s Board of Directors.
Step 7: Funding decision
FCM’s Board of Directors approves plans and studies funded under Urban forestry plans and studies.
Access urban forestry coaching
You can access free coaching from urban forestry professionals to improve the quality of your application and receive answers to technical questions about your plan or study. If you are interested in speaking with a coach to support your application, please ask your GMF representative to refer you.
Coaches can help you with:
- Scoping your project and reviewing methodology
- Maximizing project benefits
- Ensuring your project is informed by best practices in urban forestry
Please refer to our coaching webpage for more information on this service.
Quebec municipalities
Funding for Quebec municipal applicants: starting May 27, until September 15, 2026.
Municipalities in Quebec must follow a specific application protocol established through an agreement between FCM and Quebec's Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation (MAMH). Under this agreement, MAMH conducts a review of all proposed projects before the GMF evaluation begins.
To ensure your project is considered within the defined application period, please submit your application to both the MAMH portal and the FCM funding portal at the same time. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to ensure a timely decision as this process involves provincial and federal review stages. Please note that MAMH requires up to 20 working days to review the application and forward it to GMF.
How to apply
- Verify eligibility: Complete the Readiness check to ensure your organization and project meet the core requirements.
- Prepare your pre-application:
- Download the application guide. Review the guide for full instructions on required documentation, funding details and reporting requirements.
- Review eligible costs to ensure your project budget only includes approved expenditures.
- Submission process: To be considered for funding, you must submit your pre-application request directly to the province. Log into the MAMH portal using your username and password to complete the following steps:
- File naming: Save your application form to your local device using the format: FMV_ "your municipality's name"_ "date" (YYMMDD), e.g., FMV_TownofABC_180228.pdf
- Initiate transfer: Once logged in, click on File Transfer.
- Select recipient: In the Recipient dropdown list, select the applicable funding.
- Complete upload: Upload your files and select Transfer once your request is complete.
- Notify GMF: Log into the FCM funding portal to upload a copy of your pre-application form. This helps our team stay informed about your project and provides better support throughout the review process.
- Compliance and standards: All projects in Quebec must:
- Comply with all Quebec laws and regulations: You are responsible for verifying and meeting all applicable provincial requirements and obtaining necessary authorizations before starting work.
- Follow recognized practices: Your project should align with best practices and standards officially published by relevant Quebec ministries.
Learn more about the Growing Canada’s Community Canopies initiative
Discover the ways GMF is supporting communities in planting the right trees in the right places.
Have you completed the Readiness check and determined you could be eligible?
To further discuss your application, schedule an appointment with a GMF representative:
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