Montgomery County Should Replace All Trees Lost to Development

ANS and regional partners push adoption of net zero loss law – a substantial change

For more information, contact [email protected], or 240-899-9019, or [email protected], or 305-310-7149, or [email protected], 240-630-4703 

For Immediate Release – September 22, 2020 

CHEVY CHASE, MD – The Audubon Naturalist Society (ANS) and its partners are testifying before the Montgomery County Council this afternoon to push for an amendment that would substantially and meaningfully change the county’s Forest Conservation Law. The amendment insists on a net zero forest loss, similar to the strongest Maryland forest regulations, recently passed by the Fredrick County Council this summer. Currently the county requires that only 25 percent of trees lost to development be replaced. Net zero means that 100 percent of trees lost would have to be replaced.

“Trees clean our air and play a major role in helping us adapt to climate change by reducing urban heat island effects- they basically act as a natural thermostat. It’s critical that the Council step into its role as an environmental leader, propose and adopt a net zero forest loss amendment as part of Bill 36-20,” said Denisse Guitarra,” Maryland Advocate for ANS.

More tree coverage would help to reduce stormwater runoff from heavy and frequent storms already being experienced by all throughout our region (See Sep 2020 DMV floods). Tree roots help hold onto the soil, and can absorb more rain. This mitigates runoff that pollutes our streams and rivers and eventually our Chesapeake Bay. Furthermore, trees are a major part of helping us adapt to climate change by reducing urban heat island effects.

Click here to read our testimony and blog on this topic.


Our forest fight partners include:

MD League of Conservation Voters 
Rock Creek Conservancy
Potomac Conservancy
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation

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Follow ANS at: www.Facebook.com/Audubon Naturalist SocietyNaturalistSociety,  www.Twitter.com/ANStweet 
and @ANSNature on Instagram.

 About ANS: Throughout its history, ANS has championed nature for all by playing a pivotal role in conserving our region’s iconic natural places from development including the C&O Canal, Dyke Marsh and, most recently, Ten Mile Creek. Past ANS member and board president, Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring, is credited with launching the now global environmental movement. ANS‘s nature experts provide hundreds of opportunities each year for children and adults to enjoy, learn about, and protect the environment.

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