The county’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and County Executive Marc Elrich celebrated Arbor Day by commemorating the completion of an $814,000 grant from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for Maryland’s 5 Million Trees Initiative.
The 5 Million Trees Initiative (PDF), enacted as part of the Tree Solutions Now Act of 2021, aims to plant 5 million trees across the state by the end of 2031. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation grant was awarded to the county’s Tree Montgomery program, enabling the planting of 1,400 trees at 27 schools in urban areas with low-income and high unemployment rates.
Traditionally, Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday of April to encourage tree planting and celebrate the importance of trees for a greener future. Elrich and DEP Director Jon Monger attended an Arbor Day event at Viers Mill Elementary School to mark the occasion.
Wheaton Senior Center participants recently celebrated Arbor Day by planting their very own pine trees in decorated flowerpots to take home to watch grow! #MoCoRec #MoCoSeniors 🌳 pic.twitter.com/Xf0rlkk1HK
— Montgomery County Recreation (@MoCoRec) April 28, 2024
“Arbor Day reminds us of the profound significance of trees in nurturing our communities, County Executive Elrich said in a press release. “With this State grant, and the work of our Tree Montgomery program, we’re not just planting saplings. We are fostering a greener, healthier future for our children. These trees will serve as living classrooms providing shade, improving our air and teaching invaluable lessons of environmental stewardship and sustainability for generations to come.”
In addition to the trees planted through the state grant, DEP is also planting 235 trees at five additional schools across the county as part of the Tree Montgomery program. Since its inception in 2013, the county has planted over 14,000 shade trees, with 2,000 on Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) campuses.
The county’s Department of Transportation also plants approximately 2,500 new trees annually.
MCDOT Division of Highway Services maintains over 250,000 trees🌳 in the dedicated county right of way and another 200,000🌳in rural areas. #DYK we also plant approximately new 2,500 #trees🌲every year.
🌳🔗https://t.co/vkLbvMn3wO#ArborDay @MarylandDNR @MyGreenMC #EarthMonth pic.twitter.com/ql2aniwcoO— MCDOT (@MCDOTNow) April 26, 2024
“Today’s Arbor Day tree planting is a great reminder of the important impact of trees in creating a greener, more resilient and more beautiful Montgomery County,” DEP Director Monger said. “This State grant furthers our ongoing important collaboration with the State, our schools, our partners and the community to achieve our shared goal of planting and caring for trees.”
The grant and future opportunities from the Chesapeake Bay Trust for the 5 Million Trees Initiative will support the county’s Tree City USA designation for the 29th year. Ongoing tree planting initiatives are essential in helping to increase tree canopy coverage, improve air quality, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and enhance the overall quality of life for residents.
Residents can learn more about the county’s free tree program by visiting the Tree Montgomery program website.
Photo: © Kalyakan – stock.adobe.com / Montgomery County Graphic