Our Vision for a Green Baltimore
Long before modern engineering created air conditioning, sewer systems, and water and air purification technology, nature provided similar services through shade trees, grass, wetlands, and forests. Practicing good stewardship of our natural world improves the ability of future generations to eat fresh food, breath clean air, drink healthy water, and enjoy open space.
A greener city enjoys significant health, infrastructure, and economic advantages. Increased tree coverage, local food systems, availability of recreational spaces, and healthy ecosystems are key components to creating a greener Baltimore. Trees are often not as plentiful in highly developed areas of Baltimore City, yet urban forestry provides a host of very valuable benefits. Studies have shown that areas with more trees have lower asthma rates among children. Trees provide welcomed shade in the summertime, reducing the urban heat island effect and reducing air conditioning needs for buildings and cars. In addition, urban forestry offers bird habitat, improves air quality, and absorbs greenhouse gas emissions, helping to reduce climate change.
A greener city also provides better access to more sustainable food sources. For example, the average American meal travels roughly 1500 miles to get from farm to plate. This is unsustainable for a number of reasons. Transporting food over long distances is expensive due to fuel costs and contributes to climate change due to the release of greenhouse gases from shipping and trucking. The increasing disconnect between where the food we eat actually comes from, and how it is produced, further separates us from the natural systems we rely upon for survival. There is a growing movement to utilize urban land for agriculture as a means of providing fresh food to communities. This would reduce fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions, while reconnecting children and adults to nature, and educating people about nutrition. Local farmers’ markets are another means of increasing the sustainability of our food systems. Farmers’ markets allow access to fresher, locally grown or produced food, resulting in significantly less negative environmental impacts while supporting local economies. There are currently over 15 farmers markets in Baltimore.
Greening a city also includes creating and maintaining more green spaces and open space for recreation. In addition to the health benefits of having access to recreational space, these amenities can positively impact Baltimore’s infrastructure and economy. Parks, gardens, fields, and other recreational areas increase tourism and raise home values. By making universal access to recreational space a priority for Baltimore, we hope to foster stronger communities, healthier citizens, and more respect for the natural world.
A diverse ecosystem where all species, no matter how small, are protected is important to maintaining the web of life on which all living things depend. Each day, between 50 and 150 plant and animal species are estimated to be lost through extinction. Once a habitat, plant or animal species is lost globally or even regionally, it is very difficult, if not impossible to bring back. Healthy biodiversity contributes to water resource protection, soil health, pollution breakdown and absorption, climate stability, and natural resources such as food and medicinal ingredients. For instance, about 40% of the drugs and other pharmaceuticals we rely upon in modern medicine were developed from genetic resources of wild plants and animals. There is an intrinsic value to ecosystem health as well. Imagine Baltimore without our beloved black-eyed susans, orioles, or blue crabs.
Baltimore has the potential to be a city where our own natural resources are relied upon to provide habitat, shade, water and air purification, food, and recreational opportunities through the greening of our surroundings.
Greening Goal 1
Double Baltimore’s Tree Canopy by 2037
Trees are essential to healthy, vibrant communities. Trees are proven to stimulate economic development, clean and reduce the amount of stormwater from running into the harbor, improve air quality, reduce cooling and heating costs, and increase property values. The TreeBaltimore Initative is our city’s effort to double Baltimore's tree canopy from 20-40% by 2037. With this initiative, Baltimore joins the ranks of other cities across the country that are aggressively working toward building a sustainable urban forest. The initiative will give both the public and private sectors an opportunity to take part in improving the quality of urban life. Education and outreach along with innovative incentives for private landowners will be required to reach this bold goal.
Strategy A: Assess current urban forest
Conduct a complete inventory of Baltimore’s street, park and school trees. In order to better manage the urban forest for its values, we must understand and quantify its health and impact on our city. We know, for example, that two large, healthy trees can provide a lifetime supply of oxygen for a family of four. The more we understand about Baltimore's urban forest, the better we can manage our trees for increased economic, social, environmental, and ecological benefit for our citizens.
- Timeframe: Mid-Term
- Type: Policy/Operations,
- Funding Source: City, State and Federal Funds; Grant Programs
- Lead Partners:DRP, BCPSS, NGOs
Strategy B: Protect our existing trees
Upgrade the regulatory framework for the urban forest to reflect professional trends and standards of practice. Many of Baltimore's regulations and policies regarding trees need updating to meet goals and standards for contemporary urban forest practices. These regulations act as the legal framework within which tree management activites are conducted. They provide a channel through which government departments interact, establish the nature and degree of public responsibilties, and dictate the standards for managing trees on public and private property.
- Timeframe: Mid-Term
- Type: Legislative, Standards, Policy/Operations
- Funding Source:Cost Neutral
- Lead Partners:DRP, DoP, Department of Transportation (DoT), DPW, HCD
Strategy C: Build communication and cooperation among city agencies to support Baltimore’s trees
Expand ongoing communication, cooperation, and training among city agencies and identify best management practices for urban forestry management for appropriate city agencies to implement.
- Timeframe: Short-term
- Type: Standards, Policy/Operations
- Funding Source:Cost Neutral
- Lead Partners: All city agencies encountering with trees
Strategy D: Develop a city-wide education program about the value of trees
Create an outreach and education system to reach citizens regarding the benefits of trees and to teach them proper tree maintenance. Work with NGOs to increase opportunities for citizen involvement and create an interactive website.
- Timeframe: Short-term
- Type: Education, Partnership, Advocacy
- Funding Source: Grant Programs; Federal Funds
- Lead Partners: DRP, NGOs, Community and Citizen Volunteers
Strategy E: Develop and strengthen innovative public-private partnerships
Combine resources, expertise, and fundraising to increase the number of trees and to build capacity for the planting and care of trees.
- Timeframe:Ongoing
- Type: Partnership, Advocacy
- Funding Source: Grant Programs, State and Federal Funds
- Lead Partners: DRP, NGOs
Strategy F: Identify and pursue opportunities for increasing trees planted on private property
Create market-based incentives to plant trees on private property through grants, coupons, and tree giveaways.
- Timeframe: Short and Mid-term
- Type: Partnership, Education
- Funding Source: Existing Program Funds; Private Sector; Partnerships; Grants
- Lead Partners: DRP, NGOs, Private Institutions, Communities, Businesses
Greening Goal 2
Establish Baltimore as a leader in sustainable, local food systems
Food systems and food security have become important topics for public sector consideration and sustainability because of their bearing on public health, quality of life, and greenhouse gas emissions. Strategic planning can ensure that citizens have access to healthy, locall y- produced foods. Enhancing our local food system infrastructure by establishing and supporting more small farms and urban gardens and building on creative initiatives can improve citizens' access to healthier, locally - grown food. Increased demand for locally - grown food also supports local farmers, urban agriculture , and community gardens while reducing our dependence on foreign oil and greenhouse gas emissions . These activities strengthen the local food economy, reducing negative environmental impacts and improving public health.
Strategy A: Increase the percentage of land under cultivation for agricultural purposes
Increase the amount of food production within Baltimore City limits by modifying zoning regulations to accommodate urban agricultural production and sales. Promote existing Master Gardener Urban Agriculture Program. Increase the number of City Farms gardens in parks and on vacant lots. Promote community gardening for food production. Develop incentives and support for urban farm enterprises.
- Timeframe: Mid-term
- Type: Policy/Operations Changes
- Funding Source: Grant Programs; City, State and Federal Funds; Partnerships
- Lead Partners: DPR, DoP, Parks and People, Cooperative Extension, Urban Agriculture Task Force
Strategy B: Improve the quantity and quality of food available at food outlets
Implement innovative models and invigorate existing ones that improve the quantity and quality of food available at food outlets. Use food mapping resource to link food outlets to local farmers. Expand Baltimore Healthy Stores model to additional neighborhoods. Increase the number of farmers markets and locate them in underserved neighborhoods. Preserve Baltimore’s unique heritage of Arrabers.
- Timeframe: Mid-term.
- Type: Partnerships
- Funding Source: Private Sector
- Lead Partners: MD Department of Agriculture, DoP, Johns Hopkins University
Strategy C: Increase demand for locally-produced, healthy foods among schools, institutions, supermarkets, and citizens
Work with existing initiatives such as Baltimore City Public School System’s Fresh Start Farm and MD Hospitals for a Healthy Environment to increase purchasing of local food. Use a mapping resource to help institutions and supermarkets identify what local farms are interested in direct marketing. Develop a consumer campaign to create awareness of the benefits of eating and buying food locally.
- Timeframe: Mid-term
- Type: Education/Marketing
- Funding Source: Private sector; Grant Programs; City Funds
- Lead Partners:DoH, BCPSS, Hospitals for a Healthy Environment, and Other Institutional Partners
Strategy D: Develop an urban agriculture plan
Develop a plan that will promote food production and food professions and include multiple stakeholders currently involved in food production and job training. The plan should identify the predicted demand for urban farmed food and recommend location and distribution of urban agricultural institutions. It could also identify the best distribution of existing food networks and identify gaps that need to be filled.
- Timeframe: Short-term
- Type: Policy/Operations, Partnerships
- Funding Source: Grant Programs
- Lead Partners: DPR, Civic Works, Parks and People, Cooperative Extension, Urban Agriculture Task Force
Strategy E: Implement Baltimore Food Policy Task Force recommendations related to sustainability and food
Utilize the work of the Baltimore Food Policy Task Force asked to review food issues throughout the city. The group is scheduled to produce a report mid-2009 with a series of recommendations to increase access to and demand for healthy, nutritious food.
- Timeframe: Short-term
- Type: Policy/Operations
- Funding Source: TBD (will depend on recommendations)
- Lead Partners:DoH, DoP, Local Institutions
Strategy F: Compile local and regional data on various components of the food system
Create a mapping resource for those working on local food and agriculture programs. Map will include information on local farms and agricultural institutions, processing facilities, distributors, farmer’s markets, community gardens, supermarkets, hospitals, schools, restaurants, zoning and easements, economic census data, and nutritional health data.
- Timeframe: Short-term
- Type: Partnership
- Funding Source: Private Sector
- Lead Partners:DoP, Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future
Greening Goal 3
Provide safe, well-maintained public recreational space within ¼ mile of all residents
Convenient and consistent access to open and well-maintained green space provides opportunities for recreation – from sitting, resting, and gardening to creative play, nature exploration, and sports – that are critical to the health and livability of any community. The provision of a wide variety of green spaces for all of Baltimore’s diverse neighborhoods will provide the opportuntity for us to live balanced lives in our urban environment.
Strategy A: Conduct an inventory and assessment of existing and potential outdoor spaces for recreation
Capitalize on Baltimore’s available outdoor resources for the community by first setting out to understand the breadth of opportunities. This information can be used to identify the best locations, structures, and opportunities for meeting the community’s needs.
- Timeframe: Short-term
- Strategy Type: Planning
- Funding Source:City Funds
- Lead Partners: DoP, DRP, HCD
Strategy B: Develop a plan with recommendations for increasing the quantity, quality, and use of recreation spaces
Ensure that all of Baltimore’s recreational facilities are utilized to their greatest capacity by developing a plan to identify underutilized as well as over-utilized recreational spaces and make recommendations for capital improvements, changes in management, and other elements.
- Time Frame: Mid-term
- Strategy Type:
- Funding Source: Cost Neutral
- Lead Partners: DoP, DRP, NGO and Private Partners
Strategy C: Create an inclusive organizational system to support stewardship of public spaces
Provide support and advocacy for the non-government management, programming, and stewardship of public spaces. Communities and non-profits often have limited capacity for purchasing equipment or expertise for the care and maintenance of adopted spaces. An organized system could be created for these groups to share information, tools, and other resources to optimize their effectiveness at minimal cost.
- Timeframe: Short-term
- Strategy Type: Partnership
- Funding Source: Grant Programs; City, State and Federal Funds
- Lead Partners:DRP, Community Organizations, NGOs
Greening Goal 4
Protect Baltimore’s ecology and bio-diversity
It is important for urban dwellers not to forget that we still are a part of the larger ecosystem, one that supplies and contributes to the quality of the air we breath and water we drink. Baltimore City is part of a very unique collection of ecosystems including the Chesapeake Bay, and four regional watersheds. It is critical that we protect and enhance the biodiversity that keeps our ecosystems healthy.
Strategy A : Manage Baltimore City land to restore, conserve, and create habitat for native species and eliminate invasive plant species
Identify existing habitat and areas to improve as native habitat. Reduce the amount of lawn cover and incorporate planting concepts for native habitat development into Baltimore’s proposed Landscape Ordinance. Promote collaboration between city agencies, non-profits, plant vendors, and Baltimore residents to eliminate invasive plant species on City land and discourage the sale of invasive species in local nurseries.
- Timeframe: Mid-term
- Strategy Type: Policy/Operations
- Funding Source:Cost Neutral
- Lead Partners: BOS, DoP, DRP
Strategy B: Implement sustainable landscape maintenance practices
Reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides and increase use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies for pest management. Reduce dependence on synthetic chemical fertilizers and increase use of composted organic matter to build soil health. Reduce lawn cover and develop more diverse habitats that are less resource intensive and more self-sufficient. These types of practices can shift costs from potentially harmful chemicals to training and employment of Baltimore residents for maintenance and management of Baltimore’s sustainable landscapes.
- Timeframe: Short-term
- Strategy Type: Operations
- Funding Source:Cost Neutral
- Lead Partners: BOS, DoT, DRP
Strategy C: Develop and implement a system to regenerate soil health in Baltimore City
Consider soil health in all planting ordinances and develop composting system in the city for use in park maintenance and to sell to residents for private use. Work with the cooperative extension to educate Baltimore on the importance of building and maintaining healthy soil.
- Timeframe: Short-term
- Strategy Type: Operations
- Funding Source: Grant Programs
- Lead Partners: Cooperative Extension Service, DPW, DRP
Strategy D: Build community support to conserve and restore Baltimore City’s urban stream ecosystem
Promote collaboration between city agencies, non-profits, and Baltimore residents to maintain and adopt the importance of the urban stream ecosystem. Continue to work with established groups to prevent stream bank erosion and develop stream buffers to maintain proper habitats for aquatic wildlife.Utilize infrastructure replacement projects that take place in stream valleys for funding and restoration of degraded streams.
- Timeframe: Long-term
- Strategy Type: Partnership
- Funding Source: Grant Programs; Mitigation Funds
- Lead Partners: DPW; Watershed Organizations, Recreation and Parks
Strategy E: Support and develop native plant nurseries in the city
Generate revenue and provide much needed employment for Baltimore residents through a native plant nursery located in Baltimore City. As the importance of native planting and demand increases, a nursery would be an opportunity to meet Baltimore’s demand for native plants, while serving educational and employment needs.
- Timeframe: Mid-term
- Strategy Type:
- Funding Source: Grant Programs; Private Sector
- Lead Partners: Watershed Organizations; Community Organizations; R&P