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Schoolyard Grants
Urban Forestry Grant
Maryland
PLANT Community
Tips for Writing a Schoolyard Forestry Project
Sample School Yard Grant Application
Maryland Association of Forest Conservancy
District Boards
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The urban forest can best be defined as
ecosystem that consists of all the trees, associated vegetation, wild
animal life and other natural resources extending from the town center
to the edges of the suburban fringes.
The field of Urban and Community Forestry has evolved into a
comprehensive effort to manage, conserve, and enhance forest and tree
resources in and around cities, towns, and suburban areas. Street
trees, private lawn trees, trees in parks and stream valleys, as well
as small blocks of forest, all play an important role in the lives of
urban dwellers. The benefits provided by urban forests and the
challenges in managing them present the urban forester with a unique
opportunity to improve the appearance and appeal of our
communities. While traditional forestry looks more at forest
products, recreation potential, and wildlife benefits provided by
forests, Urban Forestry focuses more on the interaction of trees and
people, landscape design, and individual tree management
(arboriculture). But like traditional forestry, urban forestry
represents the art and science of managing trees and forests for a
variety of societal benefits.
Because of Maryland’s expanding urban/suburban infrastructure, urban
and community forestry has become an integral part of the state’s
resource management objectives. In 1943 the Maryland Legislature
passed a unique act establishing 24 Forestry Boards throughout the
State, one in each county and one in Baltimore City.
Early on these Boards brought together volunteers from each county to
discuss traditional forestry issues and provide feedback on policies to
the Department of Natural Resources – Forest Service.
In the last two decades, Maryland’s
Forestry Boards have expanded their focus to include urban forestry
issues. In 2003, representatives from Forestry Boards statewide
cooperated to form the Maryland Urban and Community Forest
Committee. This new group is charged with promoting public
education and appreciation of our urban trees and forests through a
variety of grant funding programs and public awareness campaigns such
as PLANT (People
Loving and Nurturing Trees). The group will also
tackle policy issues related to urban and community forestry and
endeavor to further improve urban forests throughout the state.
Maryland Urban
and Community Forest Committee
The Maryland Urban and Community Forest
Committee (MUCFC) is a volunteer group of citizens, professionals, and
government officials united to protect and enhance Maryland’s forest
ecosystems. MUCFC is a sub-committee of the Maryland Association
of Forest Conservancy District Boards. The primary function of the
Committee are to promote and coordinate the Maryland Community PLANT
award program that officially recognizes communities planting and
caring for trees, and to administer Grants to schools and communities
through there local Forestry Boards that promote planting and care of
trees.
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