The N.J. Department of Environmental Protection, Sustainable Jersey and The College of New Jersey recently announced awards of nearly $4.5 million in “Trees for Schools” grants, which will fund the planting of trees of 40 public schools, colleges and universities across the state. Among the awardees is Ocean County College, which is set to receive $19,460 from the program.

Tree-planting projects increase shade coverage to mitigate the effects of rising temperatures due to climate change,…