Herstory: Protecting Montgomery County’s forests

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Kara Farthing still remembers her Virginia Tech forestry professor’s advice: Don’t get stuck as the “data fairy.”

During group work in the field, the professor said, female students needed to avoid always ending up as the designated note taker, even if they had the neatest handwriting. Just like their male counterparts, Farthing was told, female students needed to learn to use the forestry equipment, measure trees, and “actually get your hands dirty.”

“It tended to be the woman in the group taking the notes while the guys were out doing something,” Farthing said. The professor “would take the notebook away and hand it to one of the guys, saying to us, ‘You need to be out there. You need … Continue reading

A special tree grows, again, in Twinbrook

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By James Hedrick, Commissioner, The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC)

Among the many agenda items that come before the Montgomery County Planning Board, some projects will stick with you. On February 22, 2024, the Planning Board held a hearing regarding an apartment complex in Twinbrook: 210-plus units, 25% subsidized, a stone’s throw from a Metro station. All good. Nothing too unusual.

Except for one thing. A crabapple tree.

Specifically, the National Champion Southern Crabapple (Malus angustifolia).

The tree immediately reminded me of the Truffula tree from Dr. Seuss’s “The Lorax.”  Although Montgomery County does not have an orange mustachioed gremlin voiced by Bob Holt (or Danny DeVito, if you prefer the 2012 version) to speak for … Continue reading

A groundbreaking law from the ‘90s needs an update to protect and expand Montgomery County forests

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In the coming months, the Montgomery County Council plans to consider a historic amendment to the county’s Forest Conservation Law – the No Net Loss of Forest initiative. Montgomery Planning proposed the initiative in 2022 in consultation with forest conservation experts and stakeholders, and with Planning Board approval.

What is the History of the Forest Conservation Law and the No Net Loss of Forest Initiative?

Montgomery County is known for its accessible parks, peaceful green spaces, and wooded trails that support a high quality of life for humans and wildlife. Approximately 30% of Montgomery County is covered by forest – a point of pride for residents and visitors who reap its benefits every day. The county’s laws, plans, and … Continue reading