Maryland's New Approach to Increasing Urban Tree Canopy

Maryland’s New Approach to Increasing Urban Tree Canopy

2015 NADF Partners in Community Forestry Conference

Denver, Colorado


• Citizens plant trees • Maintain canopy • MD Forest Action Plan


Create 2 new planting assistance programs

….. reach non-traditional cooperators….


the urban and suburban lot owner(the owner of the turf)


(Thought process: • 1.1 million acres of mowed turf• Urban and suburban landowners – Smaller lot size = smaller plantable space (not traditional landowner)



1st program Marylanders Plant Trees

• targets the landowner wanting to plant a tree


Marylanders Plant Trees is a coupon reimbursement program• $25 off native trees $50 or more in cost• Online registry • January 2009 - today


2nd programLawn to Woodland• targets lot with 1 acre of plantable space


Lawn to Woodland, a MD Forest Service & NADF partnership• no cost to landowner • Spring 2014: pilot• Spring 2015: statewide


Results• Marylanders Plant Trees – FY09 thru FY15, 33,324 coupons reimbursed

• Lawn to Woodland– Pilot : 14 ac; 12 lots; 7,000 seedlings– Statewide : 100 ac; 84 lots; 41,220 seedlings


Survivability (Fall 2015):Spring 2014 plantings

85-90 %

Spring 2015 plantings

SUCCESS !!!!!


Lessons learned:– State contracts : commodities vs labor contracts– Continued funding sources– Landowners: lot size, dog fences– Tree tube complaints


Marian HoneczySupervisor, Urban & Community Forestry

Maryland Forest Service [email protected]

(410) 260-8511

Maryland's New Approach to Increasing Urban Tree Canopy

Environment