OSWEGO, N.Y. — SUNY Oswego will use a $25,000 Constellation Leading Environmental Accelerators Network (CLEAN) grant to support at least five more years of its Rice Creek Field Station, which plays a key role in a reforestation project supporting trees important to the ecosystem, the college announced.

The Canal Forest Reforestation Project (CFRP) is an initiative to restore white oak, swamp white oak, and white pine trees to areas along the New York State Canal System, including Oswego. Project co-founders George and Jane Pauk funded Rice Creek’s role for the first five years.

“We were really excited last spring to be contacted by Constellation Energy and told about how Constellation’s corporate office has an interest in funding environmental initiatives,” Rice Creek Assistant Director Kirsten Haynes said in a news release.

Conversations between David Victome, a recent SUNY Oswego graduate, and Eric Kraus, of Constellation, showed the project would be a fit.

“It was such a great partnership,” Haynes said. “They did the legwork for us and successfully pitched the project for Constellation funding.

The grant will support paid intern positions and the purchase of materials, according to Rice Creek Field Station Director Kamal Mohamed.

“One of our missions is to spread awareness, especially on the importance of trees,” Mohamed said. “These trees are just not found in the wild anymore in our area. So, it’s an effort to restore these American trees into the landscape.”

Because these tree types provide good lumber, they were logged extensively to support canal industries of shipbuilding and barrel construction. The CFRP works to reverse that damage by collecting and distributing seeds and young plants for replanting.

This year, the project distributed about 500 young trees to the Central New York, Genessee, and Otsego land trusts.

“The CLEAN awards uplift our nuclear plant communities by supporting local and regional environmental stewardship organizations that share our commitment to creating a cleaner, healthier future,” Bryan Hanson, Constellation executive VP and chief generation officer, said.

Oswego’s award was part of $1 million in grant funding announced by Constellation on Oct. 15 through the Constellation Foundation to support 35 conservation projects.

CLEAN awards directly fund efforts to combat climate change, protect ecosystems, and advance sustainability in Illinois, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas.