Minnesota Statutes Forestry (Ch. 88-91) § 88.82. Minnesota releaf program

(a) The Minnesota releaf program is established in the Department of Natural Resources to encourage, promote, and fund the inventory, planting, assessment, maintenance, improvement, protection, utilization, and restoration of trees and forest resources in this state to enhance community forest ecosystem health and sustainability as well as to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and promote energy conservation.

(b) Priority for grants awarded under this section must be given to projects located in whole or in part in a census block group with a supplemental demographic index score in the 70th percentile or higher within the state of Minnesota.

(c) For the purposes of this section, “supplemental demographic index” means an index in the Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency that is based on socioeconomic indicators, including low income, unemployment, less than high school education, limited English speaking, and low life expectancy.