Maryland PLANT Community - Awards Program

Plant Award Winner At an Arbor Day celebration at Riverdale ES, Town of Riverdale Park received a PLANT award from MD DNR forester, Horace Henry, in recognition of the town's reforestation efforts.

People Loving And Nurturing Trees (PLANT) is a statewide award program to recognize communities for their tree planting and tree care efforts. Communities range from schools, homeowner organizations and parks to metropolitan areas, cities and towns.


There are four PLANT award levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Green. Successive levels require more formalized tree care activities. Although a community may remain at any level for an unlimited number of years, the goal of the program is to encourage a community to grow through the award levels by strengthening their commitment and care for their urban trees.


Description: Awards are given based on the number of accomplishments completed by the applicant during the award year. A minimum of 4 accomplishments is required to be recognized. Acceptable accomplishments for PLANT awards range from holding a one-time tree event or ceremony (Arbor Day) to having built comprehensive ongoing planting and maintenance programs. PLANT is sponsored by the Maryland DNR Forest Service and the Maryland Community Forestry Council. Applications must be received by the Maryland DNR Forest Service by 11/30.


Communities submit an application in which they describe the events and activities that meet an award criteria. Applications are submitted to the DNR Forest Service by December 15th each year and awards are presented in April, often in conjunction with local Arbor/Earth Day celebrations.


This application can be filled in on your computer. Return the completed, signed form and suggested documentation Lindsay Major at the address listed below.


If you have any questions about the program please contact:

Lindsay Major
MD DNR Forest Service
Tawes State Office Building E-1
580 Taylor Avenue
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-260-8510
lmajor@dnr.state.md.us

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PLANT Community Award Winners

In 2009, 109 of Maryland’s communities demonstrated their commitment to caring for their Urban Forest resources by being PLANT Communities! PLANT stands for People Loving And Nurturing Trees. As you can see from the list of winners, communities from Oakland (Garrett County) to Ocean City (Worcester County) and from Chesapeake City (Cecil County) to LaPlata (Charles County) - all across Maryland - are full of People Loving And Nurturing Trees!

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Bronze Award The BRONZE AWARD is an attractive framed certificate indicating the award level and community name. Communities qualify for the Bronze Award by sponsoring a single activity or "one time event" relating to trees or tree care. Typical activities include a tree planting, or Arbor or Earth Day event.

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The SILVER AWARD includes an etched wooden plaque with silver nameplate and date tag engraved with the year of the award. The plaque is designed to display additional PLANT awards of silver (or higher) in subsequent years to document a community's on-going commitment to their trees. The Silver is intended to encourage activities that lay the groundwork for developing an urban forestry program. Such activities might include data collection for a tree or natural resource inventory or the creation of a Tree Board or Beautification Committee. Silver Award

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Gold Award The GOLD AWARD is an engraved, gold-colored date plate to be mounted on the wooden PLANT plaque. The Gold Award recognizes communities for actively developing urban forestry programs to improve the health of their community's trees. Activities that qualify for this award level may include development of a tree management plan based on a previous inventory or adoption of tree protection regulations.

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The GREEN AWARD is a green-colored date plate for display on the wooden PLANT plaque. Although simple in form, it represents the highest PLANT honor to recognize a community that has developed a well-established urban forestry program. This coveted award is reserved for programs that are funded, fully functional and staffed by qualified professionals (including volunteer assistance). Communities that are recipients of the federally awarded Tree City USA status automatically qualify for PLANT's Green Award.

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To participate in Maryland's PLANT Program, simply fill in the PLANT application print it and mail to the region in which you live. The addresses are shown on the first page of the application. You may submit any time during the year but the yearly deadline is December 15th for awards to be made the following April.

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The History of the PLANT Program Plant Award Winner

The Maryland PLANT Program was established in 1991 as a cooperative effort between the Maryland Community Forest Council (MCFC) and the Maryland Forest Service. The goal of the program was to help local communities step through the process of developing an on-going urban forestry program. By reinforcing small, initial efforts, communities begin to "adopt" their local tree resources and once engaged, become invested in maintaining the health and survival of the tree canopy. As the tasks become more complex, evolving into tree inventories and management plans, MCFC and the Forest Service can provide technical support and volunteer assistance to aid in the development of a formalized urban forestry program.


Before PLANT was established, national programs such as Tree City USA were providing these services for incorporated communities but smaller groups and unincorporated communities were not qualified to participate. PLANT was established to fill this gap and to encourage involvement by communities of all sizes.


During the first few years of the program, the number of participating communities grew to 30 in 1994. After program revisions in 1996, the number of PLANT communities skyrocketed from 67 in 1998 to 161 in year 2000. But the number of participants is only half of the story. Fostering growth through the award levels is a major goal of the PLANT program. Many communities enter at the Bronze Award level and gradually intensify their efforts; others may skip one or more levels to quickly achieve the top Green Award. PLANT encourages communities to intensify their efforts at their own pace. Sustainability is encouraged.

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2009 PLANT Award Winners
People Loving And Nurturing Trees

Plant logo and MUCFC logo
Community County Award Level
     
CENTRAL REGION    
Aberdeen Proving Ground
Harford
Green
Baltimore City Dept Rec & Parks
Baltimore
Green
Baltimore Gas & Electric Co.
Baltimore
Green
Bel Air, Town of
Harford
Green
Cherry Tree Farm
Howard
Bronze
Columbia Association
Howard
Silver
Eastern Technical High School
Baltimore
Bronze
Greening of Dundalk
Baltimore
Silver
Greening Southeast Baltimore
Baltimore
Silver
Harford Glen Environmental Education Center
Harford
Silver
Hickory Elementary School
Harford
Gold
Howard County Government
Howard
Green
Jarrettsville Elementary School
Harford
Silver
Joppa View Elementary School
Baltimore
Green
Montgomery Blair High School PTSA
Montgomery
Silver
Perry Hall High School
Baltimore
Bronze
Rockville, City of
Montgomery
Green
Sparrows Point High School
Baltimore
Green
St. John the Evangelist School/ Pack 875
Baltimore
Bronze
Stedwick Elementary School
Montgomery
Bronze
The Highlands School
Harford
Bronze
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Baltimore
Green
Westminster Elementary School
Carroll
Bronze
Westminster, City of
Carroll
Green
Youth's Benefit Elementary School
Harford
Gold
   
EASTERN REGION    
Benedictine School
Caroline
Green
Berlin Intermediate School
Worcester
Green
Buckingham Elementary School
Worcester
Green
Ocean City, Town of
Worcester
Green
Ocean Pines Association
Worcester
Gold
Pocomoke Elementary School
Worcester
Silver
Richard Memorial Park Association
Talbot
Silver
Salisbury Zoological Park
Wicomico
Green
Sassafras Natural Resource Management Area
Kent
Bronze
Sudlersville Middle School Ecol Corps
Queen Anne's
Green
Worcester County Rec & Parks Dept
Worcester
Green
     
SOUTHERN REGION    
Accokeek Foundation
Prince George's
Gold
Adelphi Elementary School
Prince George's
Bronze
Annapolis, City of
Anne Arundel
Green
Anne Arundel Community College
Anne Arundel
Green
Bay Ridge Civic Association
Anne Arundel
Green
Bladensburg Rotary Club
Prince George's
Bronze
Bowie, City of
Prince George's
Green
Bradburn Memorial Bible Church
Prince George's
Bronze
Calvert Manor Garden Club
Prince George's
Silver
Cameron Grove Active Adult Community
Prince George's
Silver
Carrollton Elementary School
Prince George's
Bronze
Charles Carroll Middle School
Prince George's
Bronze
Cheverly, Town of
Prince George's
Green
Chillum Elementary School
Prince George's
Bronze
College Park, City of
Prince George's
Green
Collington Episcopal Life Care Center
Prince George's
Bronze
Colmar Manor, Town of
Prince George's
Silver
District Heights, City of
Prince George's
Bronze
Greater Accokeek Civic Association
Prince George's
Gold
Greenbelt Homes Inc.
Prince George's
Green 
Gwynn Park High School
Prince George's
Silver
High Point High School
Prince George's
Gold
Hollywood Elementary School
St. Mary's
Silver
Hyattsville, City of
Prince George's
Green
James J. Rowley Training Center
Prince George's
Green
John Hanson Montessori School
Prince George's
Green
Judith P Hoyer Early Childhood Center
Prince George's
Silver
Lake Arbor Civic Association
Prince George's
Silver
Largo High School
Prince George's
Bronze
Laurel, City of
Prince George's
Green
Lower Potomac Tributary Team
St. Mary's
Silver
Manchester Estates Civic Association
Prince George's
Silver
Mary Catherine Estates Civic Association
Prince George's
Bronze
Maryland Farms Condominiums
Prince George's
Bronze
Mattaponi Elementary School Boy Scouts Pack 239
Prince George's
Silver
M-NCPPC Parks & Recreation
Prince George's
Green
Mount Airy Garden Club
Calvert
Cert
Mount Rainier, City of
Prince George's
Green
New Carrollton, City of
Prince George's
Green
New Hope Academy
Prince George's
Silver
New Redeemer Baptist Church
Prince George's
Silver
Oakcrest Elementary School
Prince George's
Bronze
Patuxent River Naval Air Station
St. Mary's
Green
Port Towns Community Dev Center
Prince George's
Bronze
Riva Trace HOA
Anne Arundel
Gold
Riverdale Hghts/Hills/Crestwood Community Assoc
Prince George's
Silver
Robert Goddard Montessori School
Prince George's
Silver
Rosaryville Elementary School
Prince George's
Bronze
Rose Valley Elementary School
Prince George's
Bronze
Scotchtown Hills Elementary School
Prince George's
Silver
Sherwood Forest
Anne Arundel
Green 
Shipley's Choice Elementary School
Anne Arundel
Silver
Springhill Lake Elementary School
Prince George's
Bronze
St Mary's College of Maryland
St. Mary's
Green
St Mary's County Health Dept
St. Mary's
Gold
Summit Creek Community Association
Prince George's
Silver
Sunrise Homeowners Association
Prince George's
Bronze
The Seville A Condominium
Prince George's
Bronze
William S Schmidt Outdoor Education Center
Prince George's
Silver
Windsor Mill HOA
Prince George's
Bronze
Woods End HOA
Prince George's
Green
Woodyard Estates HOA Inc
Prince George's
Silver
 
WESTERN REGION    
Thurmont, Town of
Frederick
Bronze
Savage River Watershed Association
Garrett
Cert
Cumberland (Marking a Difference, One Tree at a Time)
Allegany
Cert.
Waterford Park, Friends of
Frederick
Gold
Fort Detrick
Frederick
Green
Frederick, City of
Frederick
Green
Cumberland, City of
Allegany
Green
Hagerstown, City of
Washington
Green
Mount Airy, Town of
Frederick
Green
Loch Lynn Heights, Town of
Garrett
Green
Friendsville, Town of
Garrett
Green
Oakdale Elementary School
Frederick
Silver
Valley Elementary School
Frederick
Silver
   
Certificates are awarded to groups participating in Urban Forestry projects in their community.  
   


The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service wants to know if this service is helpful for you or your company, please send comments and/or suggestions to Maryland DNR.