NUCFAC is an appointed advisory council to the Secretary of Agriculture on urban forestry and related issues. The 1990 Farm Bill created NUCFAC to bring together the wide variety of voices raised about a common concern: the present health and future preservation of America's urban forests. NUCFAC was founded to synthesize the full spectrum of views into a consistent vision, as a foundation for practical policy on urban forestry.

NUCFAC has initiated a series of public forums designed to highlight important perspectives on urban forestry issues across the US. The first was held in June 2007 in Biloxi, Mississippi on the relationship between urban forests and catastrophic storms. The second, "A Comprehensive Look at Tropical Forestry", was held on June 18 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.

For More information, visit the following links:

• Annual reports
• Ten-year Action Plan 2006-2016 (PDF)
• Report to the Secretary of Agriculture on Catastrophic Storms and Urban Forests (PDF)
• Report to the Secretary of Agriculture, "A Comprehensive Look at Tropical Forestry (PDF)
• 2008 Challenge Cost-Share Grant proposals recommended for funding

The 2010 US Forest Service National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant (CFDA 10.675) instructions and application are posted on www.grants.gov. And are available in PDF format here:

• 2010 RFP

Pre-Proposals must be posted to www.grants.gov or Courier hard copies received by 11:59 PM Eastern, December 15, 2009. Innovation proposals selected for full proposals will be (tentatively) due by 11:59 PM Eastern, March 17, 2010. The U.S. Forest Service will award the successful projects as Federal Financial Assistance grants no later than September 30, 2010.

If interested applicants are not already registered in www.grants.gov, they are encouraged to register now. The process may take up to two weeks to collect the required information.

Assistance is available from the Grants.gov Help Contact Center

Open Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Eastern Time

Email support@grants.gov or call 1-800-518-4726.

For more information or assitance, contact:

Nancy Stremple, Executive Staff, Phone 202-205-7829, Email: nstremple@fs.fed.us