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 organizations are eligible for GMF funding:
- Canadian municipal governments (e.g., towns, cities, regions, districts and local boards)
- Eligible to apply alone or in collaboration with other eligible municipal governments
- Organizations applying in partnership with municipal governments, which include:
- Municipal corporations
- Regional, provincial or territorial organizations delivering municipal services
- Indigenous communities or organizations
- Not-for-profit organizations registered in Canada (e.g., charitable organizations; volunteer organizations; community, professional, industry or other associations; land conservation organizations; and non-government organizations)
For-profit organizations or academic institution are not eligible to apply as lead applicants but can be collaborators on the plan or study.
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
GMF is no longer accepting pre-applications for the Urban forestry plans and studies funding. Those who have submitted a pre-application can still submit a full application through the portal until April 15, 2026.
We have closed the pre-applications to ensure that applicants who develop and submit a full application have access to the available funding. The high level of interest in this funding highlights communities’ commitment to strengthening stewardship and advancing the equitable distribution of urban forests.
Sign up for FCM Connect to be notified of new funding, training and resources from GMF’s Growing Canada’s Community Canopies initiative.
*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%
- Indigenous communities or 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.
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 or municipal corporation 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.
How to apply
- Complete the Readiness check.
- Download and review the application guide.
- Review the funding details in Appendix A of the application guide.
- Review the list of pre-requisites and supporting documents in Appendix B of the application guide.
- Review eligible and ineligible project costs.
- Consult Appendix D: Reporting requirements of the application guide to ensure that your project’s budget includes sufficient resources to meet reporting requirements.
- Visit FCM’s funding portal to create your profile and request a PIN to access the system or access your existing profile.
- Obtain the necessary pre-application form through FCM’s funding portal.
- Submit a pre-application form through FCM’s funding portal.
Quebec municipalities
FCM is working with Quebec's ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation (MAMH) to ensure FCM can fund Urban forestry plans and studies in Quebec. Once an agreement is reached, FCM will invite Quebec municipalities to apply.
Non-municipal organizations with a partnership with Quebec municipalities are eligible and invited to apply to access this funding.
Municipally owned corporations are not included in the agreement with the ministry. They must obtain authorization from the Quebec government to secure an agreement with FCM, in accordance with the Ministère du Conseil exécutif.
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: