Maryland Forestry Board Announces Recipients of 2008 PLANT Awards
Annapolis, MD (February 24, 2009) — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Maryland Urban and Community Forest Committee are proud to announce the 2008 PLANT – People Loving and Nurturing Trees – Award recipients.
“Trees are our most strategically important natural resource, and I commend these communities for leading the way to a smarter, greener, more sustainable future for our state,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “This year, we are asking every Marylander to follow suit to help plant 50,000 new trees; we’ll be announcing incentives to support this effort in time for spring planting season.”Under the Governor’s Smart, Green & Growing Initiative, the State has set a goal of planting one million new trees in Maryland by 2011, and has set up a new program, Marylanders Plant Trees, to encourage citizens and businesses to plant 50,000 trees by 2010.
The 2008 PLANT Awards honor 129 communities across Maryland for tree-related activities such as plantings, beautification projects, maintenance and care, education, creation of tree inventory or horticulturist or arborist collaboration for community improvement. Most communities will take part in official ceremonies later this spring. The awards are given on four levels – bronze, silver, gold and green – as determined by involvement in organizing, planning, planting, care and citizen action. This year, 49 communities earned the most coveted, green-level awards.
"We encourage all communities to continue their work each year, or increase their efforts and grow to the next award level if possible,” said Wayne Lucas, Chairman of the Maryland Urban and Community Forest Committee. “We're thrilled that so many PLANT Award communities are committed to sustaining their efforts year after year at the level where they're most capable."
A full listing of the 2008 PLANT Award recipients can be viewed online at www.dnr.maryland.gov/forests/programs/plantinfo.html.
Since 1991, the PLANT Awards Program has recognized towns, communities, homeowner associations, schools, and government facilities – large or small – that manage their community forests for a healthy environment. The Maryland PLANT Program, established as a cooperative effort between the Maryland Urban and Community Forest Committee and the Maryland Forest Service, aims to help local communities develop an on-going urban forestry program.
Applications for the 2009 Maryland Urban and Community Forest Committee PLANT Awards may be submitted at any time before December 15, 2009. For more information, please visit www.dnr.maryland.gov/forests/programs/plantinfo.html , or contact Terry Galloway at tgalloway@dnr.state.md.us or 410-260-8510.
February 24, 2009 Contact: Kara Turner
410-260-8018
katurner@dnr.state.md.usIntroduced by Governor Martin O’Malley in October 2008, Maryland’s Smart, Green & Growing initiative was created to strengthen the state’s leadership role in fostering smarter, more sustainable growth and inspire action among all Marylanders to achieve a more sustainable future. The Initiative brings together state agencies, local governments, businesses and citizens to create more livable communities, improve transportation options, reduce the state’s carbon footprint, support resource based industry, invest in green technologies, preserve valuable resource lands and restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay.
