Biodiversity

Montgomery County government strengthens biodiversity through conserving forests, planting native vegetation, implementing pollution prevention measures, and using eco-friendly landscaping on County-owned property.

The rain gardens, stormwater ponds, and green roofs on County property filter and slow down rain runoff, protecting local streams and providing benefits to birds, butterflies, and other wildlife. The County maximizes the use of these green building features wherever possible. In addition to using native plants and providing wildlife habitat in stormwater management facilities and green roofs, the County enhances biodiversity by preserving and increasing the tree canopy and using eco-friendly landscaping and integrated pest management.

Forest Preservation

Forest and youth garden

Montgomery County’s Department of General Services (DGS) makes every effort to conserve existing forests and preserve canopy trees and native vegetation on County facilities. For example, at the White Oak Community Recreation Center in Silver Spring, we preserved forest on 33 of the 43 acres, maintaining fish and wildlife habitat and protecting water quality in Paint Branch.

DGS also works with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to increase the tree canopy at existing facilities by planting new shade trees. In 2018, shade trees were planted at Connie Morella Library and Kensington Park Library. DGS and DEP are working on a tree planting strategy to target facilities with the greatest need for increased tree canopy, taking into consideration the use of the facility, existing tree canopy, and need for shading of building and heat island reduction.

Green roof and flowers

The rain gardens, conservation landscapes, and green roofs on County property filter and slow down rain runoff, protecting local streams and providing benefits to birds, butterflies, and other wildlife. The County maximizes the use of these green building features wherever possible. For example, the Equipment Maintenance and Transit Operations Center built in 2013 has four acres of green roof.

Landscaping

Training on bees

Montgomery County incorporates fish and wildlife conservation into landscape maintenance on County property. Landscaping contractors use integrated pest management (IPM), an eco-friendly and common sense strategy that focuses on long-term prevention of pest damage through biological control, habitat manipulation, and other non-toxic techniques. In addition, we train our property managers in strategies to protect biodiversity while maintaining public safety.