Register of Champion Trees
The Montgomery County Forestry Board, in keeping with its mission to increase awareness of the value of forest resources conservation, established and maintains this register. Starting with 42 champion tree species identified in 1990, the Forestry Board has held bi-annual Big Tree Contests throughout the County in its effort to identify new species and new champions for already established species.
The Montgomery County Forestry Board
The Montgomery County Forestry Board is one of 24 Forestry Boards in Maryland created over 50 years ago to promote conservation of Maryland’s forest resources and to encourage sound forest management practices. MCFB functions include:
- Preparing the detailed application required to earn Montgomery County “TREE CITY USA”designation from the National Arbor Day Foundation.
- Organizing and supplied materials for School Reforestation projects at Forest Oak and Martin Luther King Jr. Middle Schools in Gaithersburg and Poolesville and Montgomery Blair High School, involving over 150 students in the planting and aftercare process.
- Sponsoring County high school students to attend the Statewide “Awareness Week for Forestry and Natural Resource Career” in western Maryland.
- Conducting the bi-annual Champion Tree Contest, published the Register of Champion Trees and distributed copies of it to our local elected officials, schools and libraries.
- Sponsoring a Project Learning Tree teacher education workshop at the Lathrop E. Smith Environmental Education Center.
You can nominate a Champion Tree! The Montgomery County Forestry Board solicits nominations for champion trees from April through October in even numbered years. A professional forester measures the nominated tree; new championship certificates are awarded in April of odd numbered years as part of the County’s annual Arbor Day celebration. If you planning any activity that may disturb the roots or branches of a very large tree, contact the county arborist at the Department of the Environment or call 240-777-7704 to determine if it is a listed Champion Tree.
If you think you have discovered a tree larger than the one noted or a tree species for which there is no champion, the Forestry Board welcomes your nomination. The nominated tree must have a single trunk for at least four and one-half feet above ground level and a total height of at least fifteen feet. Contact the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Forestry Division to request a nomination form at 301-854-6060.
Date of last update: October 26, 2010