ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball recently helped kick-off the launch of a new, innovative program aimed at preserving Howard County’s tree canopy at Meadowbrook Park in Ellicott City. The County’s Tree Savers Program, overseen by the Department of Recreation & Parks, trains volunteers to identify and remove invasive vine species that can smother, pull down and strangle native trees on Howard County parklands. At Saturday’s inaugural event, Ball and volunteers freed more than 100 trees from vines.
“The fight against climate change starts with us and trees are an essential ally in reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Ball. “To help save and preserve our already established trees, our Tree Savers Program aims to bring professionals and volunteers together to protect our trees and forests from the threat of invasive species.”
Beginning Monday, October 21st, interested individuals can sign up for Tree Savers self-guided and group volunteer opportunities on the County’s volunteer website. Once trained, volunteers will receive a Tree Savers shirt and authorization to use hand tools to cut invasive vines in Howard County parks and open space.
While group volunteer opportunities will offer a set date, time and location, self-guided opportunities will permit volunteers to visit places like Cedar Lane, Centennial, Schooley Mill and West Friendship Parks, at their convenience and to work at their own pace. Tree Savers volunteers are asked to report the dates and locations of their service, as well as the approximate number of trees they saved from vines. In turn, Recreation & Parks staff will then assess the quality of work performed, effectiveness of training resources and determine if supplemental or alternative management is needed.
“The goal of the Tree Savers Program is to educate and empower interested members of the community to aide in efforts to protect existing native trees from detrimental vines,” said Nick Mooneyhan, Director, Department of Recreation & Parks. “In partnership with our neighbors, and through deliberate action, we will expand Howard County’s tree canopy.”
Since taking office in December 2018, Ball’s administration has prioritized the protection and expansion of Howard County’s tree canopy. In 2019, Ball unveiled major updates to Howard County’s Forest Conservation Act, modernizing it and making it the strongest forest conservation law in the state. That same year, he launched the County’s Annual Tree Giveaway, which gives away free native trees to county residents each fall. In 2022, the County launched the “Trees for Bees” pollinator giveaway program. Through these programs, the County has distributed more than 43,000 trees and shrubs to residents and organizations in the last six years. An additional 3,000 trees have been reserved by county residents for the 2024 Tree Giveaway, occurring October 2nd, 5th and 7th at Rockburn Branch and West Friendship parks.
When combined with the County’s Department of Recreation & Parks’ Natural Resources Division’s Tree Canopy Program, Turf to Trees Program, Stream ReLeaf Program, volunteer tree plantings and more, the County has planted more than 80,000 trees under Ball’s administration.
Additionally, this past April, Ball announced a new partnership between the County and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to massively expand Howard County’s tree canopy. In his Fiscal Year 2025 budget, Ball included $230,000 in funding to support DNR’s efforts to plant 32,800 trees on roughly 82 acres of state land in Howard County. When complete, the project will be the largest planting – of any kind – ever in Howard County.
The launch of the Tree Savers program is another tool in the County’s efforts to achieve the bold goal of 50 percent tree canopy cover by 2030. This 50 percent tree canopy goal is central to the Howard County (HoCo) Climate Forward: Climate Action and Resiliency Plan.
Programs like Tree Savers help supplement work by County Department of Recreation & Parks staff and contractors to manage the spread of invasive plant species as effectively and efficiently as possible. Other ongoing County invasive species management efforts within the past year include:
- Managed 14 bamboo sites totaling 4.11 acres;
- Released and awarded invasive plant species management contracts to four contractors totaling 31.45 acres across nine sites;
- Completed invasive species management and planted 650 native species within three existing forest conservation easements; and
- Worked with contractors to manage invasive Canada thistle at 17 sites totaling 171 acres.
To learn more about the Tree Savers program, including registration and training information, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/
