Preserving our Land

By redirecting our growth patterns and preserving our open space, we are protecting human health and well being along with the very foundation of Maryland’s social and economic prosperity:  productive farm land, critical habitat for fish and wildlife, opportunities for recreation and tourism, our culture and our history.

Western Maryland horizon

Land Conservation Programs

  • Through the cutting edge GIS technology of GreenPrint, every Marylander can now track land conservation progress across the state and identify ecologically significant lands within their own communities.
  • The Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation permanently preserves farm land through purchase of development rights to protect the environment and local food supply, strengthen rural communities and help direct development into areas with existing built infrastructure.
  • The Maryland Environmental Trust is a statewide land trust that provides information and tools to permanently protect natural, historic and scenic resources in the state.

Planning Tools for Local Governments

  • Over 600 Marylanders came out to nine Smart Growth Listening Sessions held throughout the state by MDP and the Task Force on the Future for Growth and Development to get citizen input on the future of sustainable growth in Maryland.
  • Maryland’s Brownfields Revitalization Incentive Programs helps to to promote economic development, especially in distressed urban areas, by identifying and redeploying underutilized properties. Reusing real property makes efficient use of existing infrastructure while providing an alternative to developing open space that contributes to urban sprawl.
  • The 21-member Task Force on the Future for Growth and Development released its report entitled “Where Do We Grow from Here?” on January 12, 2009.
  • The State of Maryland is working closely with local governments to realize Transit Oriented Development (TOD) at key rail transit stations across the State.
  • To protect Maryland’s people, infrastructure, and investments from the impacts of climate change, we are taking action now to ensure that our coastal communities are ready, adaptive and resilant.