A good definition of “native tree” contains three key elements
FONTT expressed reservations about proposed changes to the Approved Tree Species List in a series of emails, meetings, and public comments with the city council and city administration over fourteen months, June 2023 – September 2024.
In our view, the protracted discussion stemmed largely from the city not defining the term, “native tree,” in the Approved Tree Species List or other city documentation.
We recommended in an email (9-3-2024) that the city adopt a definition along the lines of those recently developed by the State of Maryland or Arlington County. Both these definitions shared the following three key traits:
Three Key Traits of a Good Definition for “Native Tree”
- Clearly stated formal definition
- Practical definition that makes it easy to determine whether a species is native or non-native
- Definition based on sound ecological principles
Read the argument for using the State of Maryland definition of native tree.
Friends of Native Trees in Takoma 