Howard County is rolling up its sleeves and taking on invasive species with the launch of the Tree Savers Program. County Executive Calvin Ball planted the first proverbial seed at Meadowbrook Park in Ellicott City, as he and volunteers freed trees from the clasping grip of invasive vines, as Howard County's official website reported. Under the Department of Recreation & Parks, the program trains volunteers to identify and cut away these unwelcome guests, thus saving the native trees that fill the county's parks.
"The fight against climate change starts with us and trees are an essential ally in reducing greenhouse gas emissions," Ball said on the county's website. The initiative couldn't be timelier, as it defends the existing tree canopy and enlists the community’s help in this green battle. Both self-guided and organized volunteer opportunities are available starting Monday, October 21st, and those who wish to participate can sign up on the County’s volunteer website.
Tree Saver's efforts contribute to a larger vision set by Ball's administration since his office tenure beginning in December 2018. The administration has been behind several successful green initiatives to expand Howard County's tree canopy. According to figures from the county's website, these include significant updates to the county’s Forest Conservation Act, the Annual Tree Giveaway program, and the “Trees for Bees” pollinator giveaway program. Over 43,000 trees and shrubs have found their way into residents’ hands, with an additional 3,000 scheduled to be distributed this October.
Adding to this green patchwork, Ball announced this April, in partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), a massive plant-a-thon that'll see 32,800 trees take root on about 82 acres of state land in the county. With a whopping $230,000 dedicated to this cause in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget, it's heralded as the most extensive planting in county history. This tree canopy expansion is one of the arms stretching towards the county's goal of fifty percent coverage by 2030, as noted on the Howard County website.
