The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay with support from the U.S. Forest Service is soliciting nominations for the annual Chesapeake Forest Champions contest. Forests provide clean water and air, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, and a host of other benefits to people. In rural and urban areas alike, trees are one of our greatest allies in reducing the pollution that flows off the land into local waterways and, ultimately, to the Bay. With 100 acres of the region’s forest lost to development each day, the need for local champions of trees and forests has
never been greater.
The purpose of this contest is to recognize the outstanding efforts of groups and individuals from around the Bay watershed to conserve, restore, and celebrate Chesapeake forests in 2018. The contest is open to all including landowners, community groups, nonprofits, forestry and natural resource professionals, schools, youth organizations, businesses, public agencies and others working in rural, suburban and urban areas. Basically, if you know any group or individual who is doing outstanding work for forests, as a volunteer or professional, nominate them.
A Chesapeake Forest Champion will be selected from each category: Greatest On-the-Ground Impact, Most Effective at Engaging the Public, and Exemplary Forest Steward. Nominations submitted for either of the last two contests will automatically be considered for 2018.
The selected champions will be honored at an award ceremony at the Chesapeake Watershed Forum in Shepherdstown, WV on Friday, November 2nd, 2018.
Nominations are due by Friday, August 31, 2018. Only applications submitted through the nomination form linked here will be considered. Please submit completed applications to forests@allianceforthebay.org.
