04.27.12 Howard County Named Tree City USA Community

 April 27, 2012

Media Contact: Kevin Enright, Director, Office of Public Information, 410-313-2022

Howard County Named Tree City USA Community

50,000 Trees planted in the last six years

ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Ken Ulman announced today that the Arbor Day Foundation has named Howard County as a Tree City Community for its commitment to urban forestry. It’s the 22nd year in a row the County has won this award.

“The County is honored to once again be named as a Tree City Community,” said County Executive Ulman. “Planting a tree is such a simple task but one that leads to a host of benefits; from beautifying a property to improving air quality and reducing stormwater runoff – not to mention providing wildlife habitat and shade to cool buildings.”

Howard County has placed a major emphasis on tree plantings in the last six years. During this time, well over 50,000 trees were planted through a variety of County programs. These programs include efforts to improve stream buffers, conserve forests, educate residents, and maintain the County’s award-winning park system.

Howard County was required to meet the following standards to acquire this honor: a tree board or department; a tree care ordinance; a community forestry program with annual expenditures of almost $2 per capita; and an Arbor Day Observance (and a proclamation).
Because of the County’s aggressive environmental efforts, meeting these standards was a “walk in the park.”

John Rosenow, Chief Executive of the Arbor Day Foundation, stated: “We all benefit when communities like Howard County place a high priority on one of our nation’s most beautiful resources.”