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

Maryland’s New Approach to Increasing Urban Tree Canopy

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

Maryland’s New Approach to Increasing Urban Tree Canopy

Create 2 new planting assistance programs

….. reach non-traditional cooperators….

Maryland’s New Approach to Increasing Urban Tree Canopy

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

Maryland’s New Approach to Increasing Urban Tree Canopy

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

Maryland’s New Approach to Increasing Urban Tree Canopy

Maryland’s New Approach to Increasing Urban Tree Canopy

1st program Marylanders Plant Trees

• targets the landowner wanting to plant a tree

Maryland’s New Approach to Increasing Urban Tree Canopy

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

Maryland’s New Approach to Increasing Urban Tree Canopy

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

Maryland’s New Approach to Increasing Urban Tree Canopy

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

Maryland’s New Approach to Increasing Urban Tree Canopy

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

Maryland’s New Approach to Increasing Urban Tree Canopy

Survivability (Fall 2015):Spring 2014 plantings

85-90 %

Spring 2015 plantings

SUCCESS !!!!!

Maryland’s New Approach to Increasing Urban Tree Canopy

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

Maryland’s New Approach to Increasing Urban Tree Canopy

Marian HoneczySupervisor, Urban & Community Forestry

Maryland Forest Service marian.honeczy@maryland.gov

(410) 260-8511