Tree planting held at Montgomery County elementary school for Arbor Day
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) – Several trees found a new home at Viers Mill Elementary School Friday afternoon.
The trees were the result of a $814,000 grant that was recently awarded to the county’s Tree Montgomery program.
The grant from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation helps the county fulfill its goal of planting 1,400 trees at 27 schools in urban areas with low-income and high unemployment rates.
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During the Arbor Day celebration, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich spoke with students about the important role trees play in the county.
“What do you know about trees?” Elrich said. “What do trees do that are good? They stopped the Dust Bowl. What does it take out of the air when it makes oxygen? Carbon.”
Fourteen new trees were planted on Viers Mill’s campus. Montgomery County environmental officials say the students held the responsibility of making Montgomery County a more sustainable community.
“You are actually leading by example and teaching others how to take care of our environment,” Jon Monger, director of the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, said. “You all do that every day. That’s what you’re doing here planting trees, right? You’re teaching people how it’s done.”
The state of Maryland’s goal is to have five million trees planted by 2031.
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