Funding includes $2.1 million for Rural Legacy Area conservation easements The Board of Public Works today approved Maryland Department of Natural Resources items including $4.5 million in grants to local governments and land trusts to preserve and protect land, and provide recreational opportunities for Marylanders.
Governor Wes Moore today announced that Maryland has achieved a milestone goal for land conservation required by state legislation six years ahead of schedule. The Maryland Department of Planning, in the latest update of the Maryland Protected Lands Dashboard, reports that Maryland has already met the 30% mark with more than 1.85 million acres of land Read the Rest…
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is expanding the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) permanent easement program statewide for the preservation of agricultural land and protection of waterways. Previously these easements were available in nine Maryland counties; now, landowners across Maryland with existing federal CREP contracts can participate in this significant land conservation program. The Read the Rest…
Maryland Environmental Trust (MET) had nearly finished preparations for its spring easement monitoring season. The pandemic put a serious dent in executing MET’s plans for monitoring, which usually involves visiting properties, meeting with the property owners, and observing the landscape and land uses, all to verify adherence to conservation easement requirements. In some limited circumstances, Read the Rest…
Maryland Environmental Trust, Lower Shore Land Trust Receive Grant The Maryland Environmental Trust (MET) and Lower Shore Land Trust, Inc. (LSLT) were jointly awarded a grant from the Land Trust Alliance and The Nature Conservancy-California to pilot state-of-the-art technology for monitoring land conservation easements. This grant will allow LSLT and MET to use a new Read the Rest…
Volunteer Opportunity to Protect Natural Areas and Landscapes Maryland Environmental Trust (MET), a unit of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, is looking for volunteers who are passionate about land conservation to work in the field as Volunteer Land Stewards. Two virtual training classes are being offered in January and February.
Funding Will Protect 4,500 Acres Statewide The Board of Public Works today unanimously approved recommendations of more than $18.8 million in Rural Legacy Program grants for conservation easements in 18 counties. Funding from these grants will permanently protect more than 4,500 acres of working farms, forests, open space, shorelines, and wetlands — plus cultural and Read the Rest…
Conservation Easement Preserves Green Space Maryland Environmental Trust, a unit of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, partnered with the Charles Koiner Center for Urban Farming Inc. to complete a conservation easement protecting green space in downtown Silver Spring. The one-acre property is home to Koiner Farm, an urban agricultural and educational enterprise. Maryland Environmental Read the Rest…
100,000 Acres Conserved Over 20 Years With the Board of Public Works’ approval of five new conservation easements, Maryland’s Rural Legacy Program has now conserved more than 100,000 acres of land throughout the state. In presenting the properties for approval, Maryland Natural Resources Secretary Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio observed that this year marks the 20th Anniversary of Read the Rest…
Easement Near Rock Hall Conserves Fields, Forest and Meadows The Maryland Environmental Trust helped Expressway Corp. permanently protect its 119-acre farm along the West Fork of Langford Creek in Kent County. Expressway Corp. donated the conservation easement on the property forever protecting this important farm and forest land on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. In the vicinity Read the Rest…
Maryland Environmental Trust Partners on Conservation Easement Near Quantico The Maryland Environmental Trust, a unit of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, partnered with the Lower Shore Land Trust to permanently protect 154 acres in the Nanticoke River watershed. Property owner Mike Phillips donated the conservation easement forever protecting this important forestland. Located near Read the Rest…
Landowners Donate Easement near Historic District The Maryland Environmental Trust, a unit of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, has partnered with The Manor Conservancy to permanently protected 12 acres in Baltimore County. Landowners John and Renae Olver donated a conservation easement to protect open space and forestland in the historic My Lady’s Manor area.
61-Acre Monk’s Creek Property Preserved in Perpetuity A scenic Harford County property has been permanently protected under a conservation easement between the Harford Land Trust and Maryland Environmental Trust, a unit of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Harford Land Trust gifted the easement on the 61-acre woodland to ensure the protection of its unique ecological Read the Rest…
Conservation Training Opportunity The Maryland Environmental Trust is offering a one-day volunteer training session for individuals interested in helping to monitor state conservation easements. The training session will be held 6 to 8 p.m. April 17 at Maryland Environmental Trust at 100 Community Place, Conference Room A, Crownsville. The trust, a unit of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Read the Rest…
Opportunity to Get Directly Involved in Conservation The Maryland Environmental Trust is offering a one-day volunteer training session for individuals interested in helping to monitor conservation easement properties. The training session will be held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 3 at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, 600 Discovery Lane, Grasonville. The Maryland Environmental Trust, a unit Read the Rest…
Board of Public Works Approves Two Department Items The Board of Public Works unanimously approved two Maryland Department of Natural Resources items today that will permanently protect 195 acres in Washington County through the department’s Rural Legacy and Conservation Reserve Enhancement permanent easement programs. The two easements will complete the protection of the entire Pleasant Read the Rest…
Donation Conserves Scenic Farmland and Forest The Maryland Environmental Trust has permanently protected a 45-acre property in northeast Carroll County. Lewis M. Hale donated a conservation easement to protect prime agricultural land, forest and scenic views along Lineboro Road. The easement also protects a tributary of Muddy Creek.
Maryland Environmental Trust Accept Multiple Land Donations The Maryland Environmental Trust accepted donations of five conservation easements in Baltimore County in December 2017 that permanently protect 337 acres of farm, forest, historic and scenic lands. “We are grateful for the opportunity to work with these forward-thinking landowners and our local community partners to help them achieve Read the Rest…
Otter Creek Preserve Protected Forever The Maryland Environmental Trust partnered with the Harford Land Trust to permanently protect a 104-acre woodland tract in Edgewood. The land trust gifted the conservation easement to ensure the area’s rich ecological resources and scenic land along Willoughby Beach Road were safeguarded for the benefit of future generations.