“Trees are an act of faith. What we’re doing tonight is about folks thirty, forty, fifty, a hundred years from now.” Erik Dihle, chief of the forestry division with Baltimore City’s Department of Recreation and Parks, spoke to an auditorium filled with nearly 100 people gathered for TreeKeepers 101: Trees and Baltimore. He was one of several leaders from City agencies and non-profits dedicated to environmental stewardship who presented the three-hour lecture on the history of trees in Baltimore City, environmental issues such as water quality and global warming, and how trees can help.

 The Baltimore Tree Trust has designed the TreeKeepers program to train and certify interested city residents in certain aspects of tree care. After completion of a series of classes, hands-on training, and tree planting workdays, TreeKeepers will be permitted to do minor pruning of street trees on their own block and lead small groups of volunteers for tree plantings in their neighborhoods.

Image courtesy of TreeBaltimore

Baltimore averages one tree for every six residents, which is about half the number of trees per capita as in most other large cities. About 4% of our trees are lost annually to destruction, natural decline, and removal. In order to reach the goals of Tree Baltimore, the City’s plan for increasing the tree canopy from 27% to 40% by the year 2040, at least 25,000 trees must be established annually. In reality, actual planting rates fall short– the combined efforts of organizations working towards this goal within the city limits plant less than 10,000 trees per year. They need help and they’re turning towards citizens that are passionate about trees, empowering them to be partners through the TreeKeepers program.

TreeKeepers 101 provided a broad overview of trees in Baltimore’s urban landscape. As a shameless tree-hugger with a deep appreciation for the value of education, I was ecstatic to have the opportunity to learn about my city and the agencies and organizations that are working to make it greener, and how I can help. Maybe most important, it was energizing to be in a room filled with people who are passionate about the same issues that resonate with me.

TreeKeepers 101 will be offered again this summer, dates TBD. For more information on the TreeKeepers program, check out the Baltimore Tree Trust website.  Washington, DC has a similar program (Citizen Forester) run by Casey Trees. Stay tuned for my report on TreeKeepers 102: Science of Trees – coming soon to a blog near you!