DNR Asks Marylanders To Support Tree Planting Program

Annapolis, Md. (July 29, 2010) — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is asking Marylanders to support the Maryland Park Service (MPS) by planting virtual trees. This is a unique opportunity for Marylanders to show state pride and support an exciting effort that will help increase tree cover in State Parks.

Through the Plant A Tree program, Odwalla will donate $1 to MPS each time citizens vote to plant virtual trees in Maryland. Each person who visits the Odwalla site can now plant up to five virtual trees. Maryland has been competing since May 26 for votes and is currently in fourth place nationally with more than 7,100 virtual trees planted.

“This program continues to be a great opportunity for our State to earn money and raise awareness about the importance of trees,” said MPS Superintendent Nita Settina. “Now that people can vote up to five times per email address, it gives Marylanders the chance to raise even more money to plant real trees in their State Parks. Trees provide cool shade, create wildlife habitat, clean the air and improve the water quality of streams, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay.”

The Plant A Tree program is a partnership between Odwalla, MPS and other states designed to build stewardship, raise awareness and earn money for reforestation and planting initiatives.

Marylanders can vote by planting five free virtual trees at www.odwalla.com/plantatree. The website portion of the Odwalla Plant A Tree program runs through September 1. Fans of Odwalla on Facebook can also create their own virtual micro-forest by encouraging others to donate trees via the Plant A Tree program.

Beyond the virtual world, Maryland offers several incentives to plant real trees through the Marylanders Plant Trees Program. Launched in 2008 in cooperation with participating nurseries, the program continues to offer $25 coupons toward the purchase of native trees costing $50 or more, redeemable at nearly 70 nurseries across the State. Governor Martin O’Malley and DNR encourage Marylanders to register every tree they plant. For more information about the program, go to www.trees.maryland.gov.

As part of the Marylanders Plant Trees program, the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services set a goal of planting one million trees by 2011 using inmate labor. This spring, inmates planted nearly 400,000 seedlings, bringing the total number of trees planted to more than 600,000. Read more about these efforts at http://www.dpscs.state.md.us/initiatives/psw/index_PSW_sustain.shtml.

For more information on Odwalla products and the Plant A Tree program, visit www.odwalla.com.

To learn more about Maryland’s state parks, visit http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages nearly one-half million acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov