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The Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability (EPS), Forest Management works to restore and protect the County’s forests and trees through conservation, reforestation, urban tree plantings, and forest and tree maintenance. Forest Management implements the County’s reforestation and tree plantings programs in support of the Maryland Forest Conservation Law (COMAR Title 501-601), Baltimore County’s Watershed Improvement Program, the 2013 Tree Canopy Goals, and Maryland Roadside Tree Permit (COMAR Title 5-401) and is split into three groups, Rural Reforestations, Urban Reforestations, and Reforestation Maintenance. In addition to overseeing the County’s reforestation and tree planting requirements and goals, Forest Management works with other County agencies on creating pollinator habitat, deer herd management, Spongy moth suppression, and forest health assessments on County-owned property.

Native Trees

EPS uses native trees in their plantings and selects species based on several factors such as ecosystem functions, mature size, native range, safety and aesthetics. EPS provides a Forest Management Species list of trees used in its reforestations and urban tree plantings. EPS will work with landowners to ensure suggestions are incorporated in final planting plans where possible so long as those species can meet the selection criteria. EPS does not plant evergreens, or provide landscaping or privacy screening trees. If you prefer to plant trees yourself, please record the tree locations on the County’s Environmental Reporter mapping tool.

Rural Reforestation

Baltimore County is mandated by the State of Maryland to reduce stormwater runoff (sediment and nutrient loads) entering the Chesapeake Bay to improve the health of the Bay and its surrounding watershed (Watershed Improvement Program). Reforestation is an important part of the Watershed Improvement Program and involves planting reforestations on both private and public land. 

Urban Reforestation

In 2013, Baltimore County set its tree canopy goal to achieve and maintain a 50 percent tree canopy Countywide and within the three drinking water reservoir watersheds by the year 2025. Additionally, the County will strive to achieve and maintain a 40 percent tree coverage within more populated areas inside the Urban Rural Demarcation Line and for each Census Designated Places (CDPs). 

Baltimore County’s Urban Reforestation program includes plantings for “managed grounds” (HOAs, apartment complexes or businesses) and urban communities (street trees) to maintain and increase the tree canopy in more densely populated urban areas. These plantings include landscape-style tree plantings wherein larger shade trees are planted as street trees in the County’s public right-of-way, in park-like settings or surrounding buildings. 

Urban communities can request an urban reforestation planting by emailing forestmanagement@baltimorecountymd.gov. Each project must include 20 trees or more.
 

Forest and Urban Tree Maintenance

Baltimore County is dedicated to the long-term survival of all of our tree plantings. Large rural reforestations (one acre or more) come with an initial three years of maintenance and 90 percent survival guarantee. Maintenance includes seasonal mowing, vine and invasive species management and shelter upkeep. Maintenance may also include watering during times of heavy drought and the use of pesticides or herbicides. EPS will conduct yearly inspections during the initial maintenance period. 

Urban tree plantings come with an initial one year of maintenance and 100 percent survival guarantee. Maintenance may include watering, pruning and shelter upkeep. EPS will conduct two inspections during the initial maintenance period.

To ensure the long-term survival of our plantings, EPS will continue to monitor reforestations for at least 10 years after planting and may conduct maintenance and replacement plantings, as needed, after the initial contractor maintenance period.

Maintaining Forest Health

 News and Updates

Explore Forest and Trees

Contact Us

Forest Sustainability Program

County Office Building
111 West Chesapeake Avenue
Room 305
Towson, Maryland 21204

Phone

Fax

410-887-4804

Director

Horacio Tablada