As a first step, he announced that USDA will contribute 100 historic trees to each state's capital city, the District of Columbia, and each American Territory to help create Millennium Groves.
Urban trees provide important environmental and economic benefits.
They help clean our water and our air. And they can help draw tourists and boost real estate values in American cities. In a speech to the National Urban Forest Conference, Glickman said he is asking each Governor to establish a Millennium Grove and work with USDA on efforts to expand urban green space. Glickman also announced that he is asking Congressional leaders to permanently authorize the Urban and Community Forestry Program through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, no longer leaving the program at the mercy of the whims of the appropriations process. Last year, this program provided technical assistance and community-based grants to over 10,000 communities to promote urban greenery.