Forest Preservation Task Force Makes Recommendations to Duncan

Header--Montgomery County, Maryland. Press Releases

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Contact: Mary Anderson, 240-777-6530

For Immediate Release: December 21, 2000

Forest Preservation Task Force
Makes Recommendations to Duncan

Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan met today with the Forest Preservation Task Force to hear their recommendations on assessing, managing, and restoring the County's forests and trees. Duncan called for establishment of the Task Force last December during his 1999 State of the County address. The Task Force was given the goal of developing a strategy to increase the quantity of forest canopy, improve the quality of forests and trees, and protect and restore forest ecosystems in Montgomery County.

"Montgomery County, like many other jurisdictions, struggles to achieve a balance between the desire for community growth and the demand for forest and tree preservation," said Duncan. "It is essential that we protect the County's few remaining critical natural areas and stem the loss of forest habitat and tree canopy."

In October, the County purchased the 215-acre Bucklodge Forest, the first acquisition using funds from the new Legacy Open Space program. The protection of Bucklodge Forest preserves the third largest privately owned contiguous upland forest tract in the County.

The Task Force recommended actions to Duncan to maintain and increase the County's tree canopy, starting with ensuring that adequate staff and funding are available to make forest preservation a primary policy focus. To accomplish this goal, the Task Force proposed hiring additional staff; establishing a permanent Forest Preservation internet site; including forest preservation data as another indicator on the environmental assessment report that tracks the County's environmental quality; and increase funding for forest preservation efforts by ten percent a year for the next five years.

"Trees play a significant role, not only in habitat and open space preservation, but also in air quality, energy conservation and stormwater management," said James Caldwell, director of the County's Department of Environmental Protection and task force member. "In addition to the beauty and natural wonder provided by trees, they are essential, low cost buffers that mitigate the impacts of development in an urban environment."

The preservation goals outlined by the Task Force include increasing the amount of reforested and protected forest bordering County streams; increase the amount of protected forest at the tops of hills or on gently sloping hills leading to stream valleys; improve the street tree maintenance program to meet state and national standards; increase the amount of urban and suburban forests and canopy cover on private properties in the County; and ensure the long-term health and protection of forested areas on public land.

The Forest Preservation Task Force is comprised of twenty organizations representing the interests of agriculture, business, citizens groups, environment, public utilities, and County, State and municipal government. Task Force members toured the County to better understand the problems and success of current forest conservation efforts.

For more information or copies of the report, call Lonnie Darr, Department of Environmental Protection, at 240-777-7703 or check the County's website at www.askdep.com.

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