5 Millon Trees
The Tree Solutions Now Act of 2021 (TSNA) set forth an ambitious statewide carbon mitigation objective: the planting and sustained maintenance of 5 million native trees across Maryland by the close of Calendar Year (CY) 2031. This initiative places a significant emphasis on promoting equity by targeting the planting of no less than 500,000 of these trees in marginalized urban communities. To facilitate the planning and execution of this mission, TSNA established the Commission for the Innovation and Advancement of Carbon Markets and Sustainable Tree Plantings (Commission). The resultant plan is the outcome of the Commission's diligent efforts to chart a path toward achieving the 5 million tree planting and maintenance target, offering a framework for Maryland's participation in carbon markets, and conducting a thorough review of existing tree mitigation policies within the state.
The coordination and oversight of this tree-planting endeavor falls under the purview of the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), with invaluable leadership support from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), Chesapeake Bay Trust (CBT or Trust), and Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT). This plan delineates the strategies being employed and the essential infrastructure being developed by these collaborating organizations, all grounded in the latest scientific research and best practices.
The Maryland Forestry Foundation's Healthy Forest, Healthy Waters program is poised to make a significant contribution, pledging to plant approximately 20% of the trees required for this program, totaling one million trees by CY 2030.
For more in-depth information about this innovative initiative, we invite you to explore the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website
