When President Donald Trump issued a series of orders freezing billions of dollars in federal climate funding, the impact on New Orleans’ tree canopy was immediate and devastating. The sudden halt to the city’s ambitious replanting initiative, the most significant since Hurricane Katrina, has left nonprofits like Sustaining Our Urban Landscape (SOUL Nola) in a precarious position. As the nonprofit behind the restoration of New Orleans’ tree canopy, SOUL Nola is facing an uncertain future, with operations paralyzed and funding running out by mid-April.
Former President Joe Biden’s landmark climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), allocated $1.5 billion for urban and community-based forestry initiatives nationwide. This funding was a crucial lifeline for organizations like SOUL Nola, which had been gearing up for a massive increase in tree planting efforts. The IRA was set to provide $3.5 million to support SOUL’s city-wide planting endeavors over the next five years, representing a significant portion of the organization’s budget.
The funding from the IRA was intended to pass through the Arbor Day Foundation and the New Orleans Office of Resilience and Sustainability to help the city achieve its climate action goals. However, Trump’s freeze on federal funding has thrown these plans into disarray, leaving SOUL Nola and other nonprofits in a state of uncertainty. While federal judges have ordered the administration to release the funding, the standoff continues, leading to what legal experts are calling a constitutional crisis.
Susannah Burley, the executive director of SOUL Nola, is facing tough decisions as the organization’s future hangs in the balance. She has had to cancel orders, rescind job offers, and put staff positions at risk due to the funding freeze. The loss of funding not only threatens the livelihoods of SOUL Nola’s employees but also jeopardizes the city’s ability to cope with the challenges of climate change.
New Orleans’ tree canopy plays a crucial role in mitigating the impact of heavy rainfall, rising temperatures, and flooding in the city. With over half of New Orleans sitting below sea level, trees are essential for reducing flood risk and providing much-needed shade to combat soaring temperatures. However, the city’s tree coverage is significantly lower than other comparable cities in the region, making it more vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
The monumental task of replanting New Orleans has largely fallen on nonprofits like SOUL Nola and the NOLA Tree Project, which have planted over 80,000 trees since Hurricane Katrina. Despite their efforts, the city’s tree canopy remains far below pre-Katrina levels and lags behind other cities in the South. The lack of trees in New Orleans is particularly acute in low-income neighborhoods, where residents are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
Chris Potter, a former NASA scientist, highlighted the importance of increasing New Orleans’ tree coverage to combat the effects of climate change. He noted that the city’s tree canopy is essential for reducing heat, flooding, and improving air quality, especially in historically marginalized communities. Organizations like SOUL Nola have been instrumental in transforming these neighborhoods through tree planting initiatives, providing much-needed relief to residents.
As SOUL Nola faces an uncertain future, supporters have rallied to offer donations and support. However, the organization’s needs extend beyond the local community, requiring advocacy at the state and federal levels to secure funding. With the fate of SOUL Nola hanging in the balance, Burley remains hopeful that the organization can weather this storm and continue its vital work in restoring New Orleans’ tree canopy.
Despite the challenges ahead, Burley remains committed to the mission of SOUL Nola and the impact it has had on the city’s landscape. As the future of federal funding remains uncertain, the organization’s fate hangs in the balance, along with the future of New Orleans’ tree canopy and its ability to withstand the growing threats of climate change.
