Montgomery County Maryland Forestry Board

Montgomery County Forest Conservancy
District Board

Montgomery County MD Forestry Board

Montgomery County Forest Conservancy District Board

Purpose
In 1943 the Maryland Legislature passed an Act creating 24 Forest Conservancy Boards, one in each county and one in Baltimore City. Board members are appointed to three-year terms by the Assistant Secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
The Boards act as advocates of sound forest management practices, and promote conservation of Maryland's forest resources. Board activities include educational programs, planting of school forests, and timber harvest plan reviews. Because the Boards are county-based, each one develops an understanding and awareness of regional issues, becoming allies for local governments and landowners who are concerned with the maintenance and stewardship of public and private forest resources. The Board members volunteer more than 500 hours each year teaching the value of trees and the best forest management practices. Among the varied activities of the Montgomery County Forestry Board the following programs are central to our mission.

Montgomery County's Champion Trees
Montgomery County, a member of Tree City USA, has a great variety of both native and exotic trees. In keeping with its mission to public awareness of our natural resources and the value of forest resource conservation, the Montgomery County Forestry Board maintains a register of the Champion Trees in our county.






















Montgomery County Arboreta
The arboretum program is based on our conviction that an understanding of the importance of our local ecosystem is fundamental to having effective environmental programs. This program adds tree tags, interpretive signs and other educational services to existing parks and cultivated gardens in the county.






















In the Schools
Montgomery County Forestry Board members are involved with the local schools in teaching tree identification, and environmental practices.






















Arbor Day
The Montgomery County Forester and Board members visit County elementary schools to talk about the importance of trees and distribute tree seedlings to students.






















Natural Resources Careers Conference
The Montgomery County Forestry Board, in cooperation with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, sponsors an annual workshop for high school students at the Natural Resources Careers Conference held at the Camp Hickory Environmental Education Center in Garrett County. The board selects and sponsors two students, who contemplate careers in resource management, to attend the week long program. Visit the following link to see a video about Forestry Week: http://www.gcforest.sailorsite.net/ (and then click Natural Resources Careers Conference (NRCC) [Forestry Week at Hickory] located on the left to get to the video screen)
Emerald Ash Borer
There is a new pest in Maryland called the Emerald Ash Borer. For more information about this pest and the eradication program please visit the emerald ash borer website at www.emeraldashborer.info
The Greydon Tolson Forestry Stewardship Award
The Montgomery County Forestry Board has adopted an Annual Award to recognize the dedication and service of a member of the Community or an organization for their support of Forestry in Montgomery County. For further information (and for the nomination form) please click the Tolson Award page.
The Forestry Board:
For the history and a list of current Board Members please click the Information tab.