One of the best ways to fight climate change is also the easiest: Planting more trees.
Trees absorb carbon dioxide and harmful pollutants like nitrogen oxides, ozone, and carbon monoxide through their leaves and bark. They release oxygen through photosynthesis. They trap dust and smoke particles. Forests absorb about a third of global emissions each year and eat more carbon than they release. And of course, trees provide shade to reduce the need for energy-intensive air conditioning, a big producer of greenhouse gas emissions.
But there’s more. Trees also help with resiliency. They help improve water quality by slowing rain as it falls to help it soak into the soil. They act as natural sponges, filtering and collecting rainfall before releasing it slowly into waterways. They help reduce erosion and flooding and they shade streams to keep them at optimal temperatures for aquatic wildlife.
There is so much you can do to help us reach our goal of planting Five Million Trees in Maryland by 2031. It sounds like a lot, and it is. But together we can do it.
Right now, our records indicate that Maryland has more than 478,000 trees planted since the Tree Solutions Act of 2021 was passed by the General Assembly setting the goal. That’s a pretty good start, but I know that we have planted more than that and we need more data.
That is why we are asking homeowners, counties, businesses, farms and other landowners to register newly planted trees with the state. That will give us a better baseline as we continue to plant, plant and plant some more. We could also use your help to spread the word, so take a picture with your trees and post them on social media using the hashtag #5MTrees.
Please tell everyone you know to register their trees, and start planning your big fall plantings. You can always call us to find out more about grant opportunities and get technical assistance.
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