Public Rally Supporting Tree Protection Bill To Be Held Oct. 7

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Environmental advocates will be hosting a rally Monday night to show support for a legislative bill described as providing greater protection for forests and trees in Anne Arundel County. The rally begins at 6 p.m. Oct. 7 at Whitmore Park, 44 Calvert St.

Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman, who is backing the bill, will address the crowd. Annapolis high school student Amelia Farrell, who earlier this year organized the March Annapolis climate strike, also is scheduled to speak. The event is planned to take place before a key public hearing where dozens of county residents are expected to testify in support of the forest conservation bill.

The county legislation would incentivize developers to conserve more forested land at their projects. It would also significantly increase fees and fines for cutting trees in violation of the law and for failing to replace trees that are cut down. The legislation is designed to stop Anne Arundel County’s significant forest loss over the past decade. Since 2010, the county has lost about 2,800 acres of forest to development, according to data from the Chesapeake Bay Program. During that time period, more forest has been destroyed in Anne Arundel County than in Baltimore City, Calvert, Prince George’s, Howard and Baltimore counties combined.