Forest conservation act

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is celebrating the General Assembly’s formal approval today of legislation that will protect more forested land in Maryland. CBF is now asking Gov. Wes Moore to sign the bill into law. CBF and partner environmental organizations have been working for nearly a decade to update Maryland’s outdated forest protection requirements. The aging 1991 law was allowing consistent forest and tree canopy loss, contributing to a reduction of about 19,000 acres from 2013 to 2018, according to a The legislation approved by lawmakers this year simplifies the arcane formulas used to determine replanting requirements after construction crews clear trees, while also providing flexibility to jurisdictions to address growth needs such as affordable housing and transit-oriented development. Del. Sara Love and Sen. Sarah Elfreth were the lead sponsors of the legislation. “We’re extending a hearty thanks to Maryland lawmakers today for their conscientious work to pass forest protection legislation,” said Matt Stegman, CBF’s Maryland Staff Attorney. “This bill is the culmination of years of effort to improve the state’s outdated 1991 Forest Conservation Act. The new protections in this bill will chart Maryland on a path toward forest growth rather than continue the state’s long history of forest loss. We look forward to Gov. Moore signing SB526 into law.” The most significant changes in the legislation include: • Setting a statewide goal to increase the acreage o...

America’s natural landscapes are unique, irreplaceable resources central to our health, economy and way of life. But development, unsustainable uses and other threats are jeopardizing their futures. At its core, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is about balance, leveraging one public resource – offshore oil and gas reserves – to conserve important lands and waters for future generations. Since LWCF’s enactment over a half-century ago, forests, open spaces, watersheds and other landscapes in every state have been protected. National parks, forests, trails, wildlife refuges and athletic fields across the country owe their existence and continuity to LWCF. All these places have helped boost local economies and create jobs. With 50 acres of farm and ranch land lost to development every hour in the United States, according to American Farmland Trust, it is critical Congress ensures LWCF has the resources and tools it needs for the next generation of conservation. LWCF Action in Congress LWCF has a long track record of robust support in Congress. In 2019, Congress approved bipartisan legislation to permanently reauthorize LWCF. It then built on that work the following year when it approved the Great American Outdoors Act, a bipartisan proposal to permanently fund LWCF at $900 million a year. These two efforts positioned the fund to provide more support for landscape-level conservation. However, project demand in every state and county continues to far outstrip the $90...