A Study of Urban Forestry in Baltimore, Maryland: Analyzing the Significance of Street Trees in Bolton Hill

by Merse, Cynthia Lauren

The incorporation of trees in an urban environment has been recognized as an asset for hundreds of years. A rich database of research exists touting the environmental, economic, and social benefits provided by trees to humans and the surrounding environs. Many cities across the United States have embraced urban trees and have established forestry programs to nurture their existence. Baltimore, Maryland has been recognized for its system of urban forests and urban forest management; however, the city is experiencing a continuous decline in the percentage of tree canopy cover. One Baltimore neighborhood that is defying this trend is the eclectic community known as Bolton Hill. Through active community participation, regular tree maintenance, and a healthy relationship with the Forestry Department, Bolton Hill exhibits a healthy street tree population and can serve as an important model for communities in Baltimore, and across the nation, in pursuing a successful urban forest in a time of tight budgets and environmental uncertainty.