Beyond the Forest: Partnering with Baltimore Tree Trust to Grow Community Roots

At Cambium, we believe trees offer more than just wood products—they are gateways to stronger communities, environmental justice, and a more sustainable future. That’s why our mission goes beyond developing wood reuse systems. Through impactful partnerships, like our support of the Baltimore Tree Trust, we’re investing in ecosystems and the people who care for them.

Planting Progress in Park Heights

As a proud member of 1% for the Planet, Cambium contributed to the establishment of the Park Heights Nursery in Baltimore, an initiative led by the Baltimore Tree Trust to address the city's urgent need for urban canopy restoration. With a temporary lease on the nursery site, Baltimore Tree Trust is employing a flexible container nursery approach, enabling them to support thousands of growing trees while adapting to evolving infrastructure.

Supporting Baltimore's Sustainability Goals

Since 2008, Baltimore Tree Trust has planted over 20,000 trees across Baltimore, focusing efforts in low-canopy neighborhoods to help the city reach its 40% tree canopy goal by 2037. But the impact goes deeper than the roots. Baltimore Tree Trust pairs each planting with a two-year care warranty, ensuring trees are watered, mulched, and pruned during their most vulnerable period—the establishment phase. Over 70% of trees planted in Spring 2022 survived through the two-year mark, with long-term environmental benefits including 166,950 square feet of canopy, nearly 15 million gallons of water released into the atmosphere, and significant carbon removal and runoff reduction.

This holistic approach—pairing data-driven planting strategies with hands-on care—exemplifies what community forestry should look like. It also highlights a lesson learned: installation alone isn’t enough. Sustainable green infrastructure demands long-term maintenance, a challenge Baltimore Tree Trust has embraced by developing new strategies and partnerships to improve tree survivorship.

Empowering the Next Generation

To meet this need, Baltimore Tree Trust is building a new workforce development model. From training crew members in heavy machinery operations with Camp Small to hosting tree climbing workshops and partnering with local tree care companies, they are cultivating the next generation of urban forestry professionals. These programs not only ensure trees thrive but also open career pathways in a growing green economy.

Partnering with Cambium

Cambium also understands that capacity building is as important as tree planting & maintenance. In 2024, we sponsored 8 Neighborhood Foresters at Baltimore Tree Trust in their career development via the pursuit of an IST certification or tree risk assessment qualification – continuing to diversify green infrastructure and urban forest career opportunities for disenfranchised residents, while simultaneously building the workforce that is best suited to care for our community forests. 

The ripple effects of this work are tangible. Cleaner air, reduced urban heat, improved stormwater management—yes. But also: increased community pride, neighborhood beautification, and job creation. At Cambium, these outcomes matter just as much as the number of trees in the ground.

That’s why we’re proud to support organizations like the Baltimore Tree Trust that prioritize people and the planet in equal measure. As we continue to scale our impact across the country, we remain committed to projects that foster deep community connections, champion environmental equity, and ensure that every tree planted today can grow into a long-lasting legacy tomorrow.

Learn more about how we think about community impact: Community Impact: Beyond Just Tree Planting

To learn more about Baltimore Tree Trust and how to support their efforts, visit here.