Vision

We see a Takoma Park where public and private land teems with native trees and other native plants. These plants sustain an ecologically rich habitat for a diverse and complex biological community of native species. At the same time, these green spaces provide enjoyment, improved health, and other benefits for all people who live in and come to our city.

Mission

Friends of Native Trees in Takoma—FONTT—supports efforts that strengthen biodiversity by increasing the number and diversity of native trees and other native plants, decreasing the abundance of invasive plant species, and promoting additional stewardship practices that support habitat.

Principles

In fulfilling its mission, FONTT follows these principles:

• Science and evidence-based decision making—We use scientific research and evidence-based criteria to guide our activities.
• Stewardship—We promote the responsibility of all stakeholders in Takoma Park to maintain and protect native trees and other native plants using sustainable practices.
• Civic engagement—We build civic engagement through volunteerism, advocacy, and partnerships that align with the FONTT mission.
• High-caliber work—While most FONTT members are not natural resource professionals, they do bring professional skills and standards acquired in other careers to their work for FONTT. The quality of its work products helps FONTT build trust with the intended audiences.
• Effective and efficient operations—FONTT members lead busy lives yet donate their time generously to FONTT, an all-volunteer organization. FONTT adopts and devises operational methods that use members’ time efficiently to achieve significant results.
• Teamwork—FONTT pursues its mission in a collaborative manner based on small teams that implement activities using a strategy that leverages collaboration across teams.

Objectives

• Increase the abundance of native plants, especially keystone species
• Protect the genetic diversity of native plants
• Reduce the abundance of invasive plants
• Increase the use of stewardship practices that support habitat