Baltimore County Offering Free Reforestation For Qualifying Property Owners

BALTIMORE COUNTY - As a part of Phase II of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan, the Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability (EPS) is offering to plant trees on residential properties.

The Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP), conceived in 2011, is part of a 3-phased process to achieve nutrient and sediment clean-up goals for the Chesapeake Bay.

The large canopy trees will prevent runoff and improve air quality in the region.

To qualify, property owners need to live in Baltimore County and own at least one acre of land that is available for reforestation.

Qualifying applicants will begin the process of having their land examined and planning where to put the trees. The process will look like this:

1. EPS staff will meet with you on your property at your convenience to discuss planting details.
2. We will prepare a planting plan for your review.
3. If you approve the plan, EPS will request cost proposals from our on-call reforestation contractors.
4. The selected contractor will prepare the site as needed.
5. The contractor will install trees and shelters to protect against deer damage.
6. The contractor will maintain the trees for three years.

If you're interested in applying for reforestation, you can complete this form. A follow-up by staff and a site assessment will follow to see if you qualify for a reforestation project.

Note from Baltimore County: “Please understand that this is a reforestation program. Our staff are not Maryland Licensed Professional Foresters and are not available to discuss or assess the health or condition of existing woodland on your property or to prescribe any silvicultural treatments for existing forested areas.”