Maryland Forestry Programs & Initiatives for Landowners & Communities
Maryland boasts a comprehensive array of laws, regulations, and programs aimed at conserving its precious forests, emphasizing a collaborative approach and seamless coordination among diverse protection initiatives. It is not uncommon for a single land conservation project to tap into the resources of multiple conservation programs.
Each section is organized by a specific type of forestry-related need or goal. Click on the program title to be directed to its host site for more details.
Planning & Technical Assistance
Programs that help landowners understand and manage their forest resources.
Forest Stewardship Plan
Prepared by Maryland Forest Service personnel, this long-range management plan assesses the current condition of a forest and provides recommendations based on landowner goals. Plans may include forestry, wildlife, recreation, soil, and water management recommendations. A Forest Stewardship Plan is often required for participation in cost-share and tax incentive programs.
Financial Assistance for Forest Management & Conservation
Programs that help offset the cost of forestry, conservation, and habitat improvement practices.
Mel Noland Woodland Incentive Program (WIP)
State cost-share program providing funding assistance for forestry practices on private forestland ownerships of 5–1,000 acres.
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
Federal program providing cost-share assistance for eligible forestry and conservation practices.
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
Provides annual payments to landowners who maintain and enhance existing conservation practices through a five-year contract.
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) & Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
Provide financial incentives to establish forest buffers, plant trees, and protect environmentally sensitive land.
Conservation Buffer Initiative (CBI)
Offers incentive payments to farmers who establish streamside forest buffers to improve water quality and Chesapeake Bay health.
Tree Planting & Reforestation Programs
Programs that provide trees, planting assistance, or support for establishing new forest cover.
Healthy Forests, Healthy Waters (HFHW)
Provides tree planting projects, supplies, and technical assistance for reforesting one acre or more.
Western Maryland Native Tree Planting Program
Offers free native tree plantings in Garrett, Allegany, Washington, and Frederick counties through a partnership between the Western Maryland RC&D Council and Maryland Forest Service.
Backyard Buffer Program
Supports homeowners in planting native trees and shrubs along streams and waterways.
Marylanders Plant Trees
Provides coupons to residents and organizations for purchasing trees from participating nurseries.
Tree-Mendous Maryland
Supports tree planting projects on public lands across Maryland.
Trees for Sacred Places
Provides tree planting assistance for faith-owned properties, including congregational grounds, retreat centers, camps, and retirement communities.
Grants for Communities, Municipalities & Nonprofits
Funding opportunities for local governments, community groups, and organizations working to expand tree canopy and urban forests.
Chesapeake Bay Trust – Urban Trees Award Program
Supports larger tree planting projects in urban and underserved communities.
Chesapeake Bay Trust – Urban Trees Mini Grant
Provides funding for smaller community tree planting projects.
Maryland Urban and Community Forestry Committee (MUCFC) Grant
Supports community forestry, education, and tree planting projects.
MDOT Urban Tree Programs Grant
Funds tree planting efforts in communities impacted by transportation projects.
Tax Programs
Tax programs for forest landowners: two property tax abatement programs and one income tax program.
Forest Conservation and Management Agreement (FCMA)
Provides a reduced property tax assessment for qualifying woodland enrolled in a long-term management agreement.
Woodland Assessment Program (WAP)
Allows qualifying woodland to receive a reduced tax assessment based on active forest management.
Maryland Income Tax Modification
Allows eligible woodland owners to deduct qualifying reforestation and timber stand improvement expenses.
Quick Guide: Which Programs Might Be Right for You?
| Goal | Programs to Explore | |
|---|---|---|
| Create a management plan | ⇒ | Forest Stewardship Plan |
| Improve woodland health | ⇒ | WIP, EQIP, CSP |
| Plant trees on large acreage | ⇒ | HFHW, WIP, EQIP |
| Plant streamside buffers | ⇒ | CREP, CBI, Backyard Buffer |
| Reduce woodland property taxes | ⇒ | FCMA, Woodland Assessment |
| Fund a community tree project | ⇒ | CBT Grants, MUCFC Grants, MDOT Grants |
| Plant trees at a church or nonprofit property | ⇒ | Trees for Sacred Places, Marylanders Plant Trees |
Program Open Space, established in 1969 by the Maryland General Assembly, is funded through the state's real estate transfer tax. This ensures that funding for state land acquisition and local parks keeps pace with development. POS transfer tax revenues are divided between POS Local (for local jurisdictions) and POS Stateside (for state land acquisitions). POS has predominantly facilitated fee simple interests in natural resource lands, although it can also be used for easements.
The Rural Legacy Program, established in 1997, aims to safeguard large, contiguous blocks of rural land while enhancing agricultural, natural, cultural, and forest resources. It operates through a community-driven process, with local governments, private land trusts, and interest groups nominating Rural Legacy Areas (RLAs) eligible for funding. These nominated areas must meet legislatively designated criteria, including the significance of resources, the threat from development pressure, and economic value.
Established in 1967 as a quasi-independent unit of the DNR, MET is dedicated to preserving forests and farmland through donated conservation easements. In 2012, MET expanded its scope to include easements on urban open spaces with significant environmental and public health benefits.
Created in 1977, MALPF's mission is to preserve prime farmland and forestland. It operates through a board of trustees, the Maryland Department of Agriculture, and local advisory boards in each county. Landowners apply for MALPF based on size and soil characteristics, and the application process is competitive.
Enacted in the 1990s and revised in 2023, the FCA mandates developers to mitigate forest cover loss during land use changes. Mitigation methods include permanent forest cover protection and priority reforestation on or off-site.
FCMA enables legal agreements between landowners and DNR. Landowners commit to managing their forests as per written stewardship plans for at least 15 years. In return, property tax assessments on forested lands are significantly reduced and remain frozen during the agreement, with penalties for non-compliance.
WAP offers preservation incentives similar to FCMA but without fixed timeframes or enrollment fees, although the assessment rate reductions are not as substantial as FCMA.
In addition to these programs, the Maryland Forest Service provides technical assistance and cost-share programs to assist forest landowners in achieving their objectives, such as the Forest Stewardship Program, Mel Noland Woodland Incentive Program (WIP), and the Income Tax Modification Program (TaxMod).
Maryland's county governments are national leaders in land conservation, having protected nearly 185,000 acres of agricultural land and woodlands through mechanisms like purchasing or transferring development rights, resulting in permanent easements. They work closely with state agencies such as the Maryland Environmental Trust, DNR, and MDA to coordinate and match state-funded land preservation programs with local resources and initiatives.
CBLP delivers sustainable landscape training and certification for those who design, install, and maintain native landscapes throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed and beyond.
To learn more, visit CBLPRO.ORG
