A Smarter, Greener, and Growing Maryland: Marylanders Plant Trees
Excerpted from the Marylanders Plant Trees website http://www.trees.maryland.gov/

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Through “Marylanders Plant Trees,” the State is partnering with businesses, communities and citizens to help fund and plant new tree cover. State agencies have a goal of planting 1 million new trees by 2011, and private citizens are being asked to plant 50,000 trees by 2010.  The program, which also includes longer term goals, is part of Smart, Green & Growing, a statewide initiative to involve every Marylander in creating a more sustainable future.

Forests are our most strategically important natural resource. Trees protect water quality, clean our air and provide wildlife habitat. One large tree can eliminate 5,000 gallons of stormwater runoff each year, and well placed trees can help reduce energy costs by 15 to 35 percent.  Trees also enhance our quality of life, beautifying neighborhoods and highways, providing sound barriers and shade, and helping increase property values.

A new interactive website provides citizens advice on where, how and what type of trees to plant, and $25 discount coupons for the purchase of native trees costing $50 or more. Citizens who plant new trees are encouraged to use the site to register the trees they’ve planted and calculate their benefits. Soon they will also be able to site individual trees on an interactive map.

Can you do your part to help us reach and exceed this goal?!?!