In an exciting development for conservation enthusiasts and nature lovers, the state of Maryland has announced a significant boost in funding for its Rural Legacy Program. A remarkable $34.6 million has been earmarked for grants, providing support to county governments and land trusts in their efforts to secure conservation easements in designated Rural Legacy Areas across the state. This historic funding approval was granted unanimously by the Board of Public Works on August 23, signifying a resolute commitment to preserving Maryland’s rural landscapes.
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz, who also chairs the Rural Legacy Board, expressed the administration’s dedication to maintaining the state’s unique rural character. He stated, “From Mountain Maryland to the coastal plains of the Eastern Shore, the Moore-Miller Administration is committed to maintaining the character of our state’s rural landscapes. This record amount of funding will enable us to protect and preserve Maryland’s farms and forests with local nonprofit land trust partners, willing landowners, and county governments. The program allows us to work in partnership with these local sponsors to support rural economies while at the same time enhancing water quality and wildlife habitat.”
This funding allocation for Fiscal Year 2024 marks the highest annual amount since the program’s inception in 1997. The grants will have a lasting impact, safeguarding approximately 7,400 acres of vital natural resources, including working farms and forests, shorelines, wetlands, sensitive environmental areas, and invaluable cultural resources across the state.
The 21 grant awards for this year will be distributed strategically, conserving around 2,770 acres on the Eastern Shore, 1,280 acres in Southern Maryland, 1,580 acres in Central Maryland, and an estimated 1,770 acres in Western Maryland. Notably, the Board of Public Works also approved an expansion of 246 acres for the Mattapany Rural Legacy Area in St. Mary’s County, situated directly across from the Naval Air Station Patuxent River. This expansion aims to promote compatible development in the vicinity of this critical military installation.
The Board of Public Works, consisting of Governor Wes Moore, Comptroller Brooke Lierman, and Treasurer Dereck Davis, endorsed the grant awards, which were recommended by the Rural Legacy Board. The latter comprises key representatives from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Maryland Department of Agriculture, and the Maryland Department of Planning.
The Rural Legacy Program stands as a beacon of hope for the conservation of Maryland’s exceptional landscapes. It focuses on preserving extensive tracts of productive agricultural and forested lands that boast exceptional features. This program empowers county governments and private land trust sponsors to purchase conservation easements from willing property owners in 35 locally-designated Rural Legacy Areas. These easements effectively prohibit the development of the property while obligating landowners to safeguard the land’s natural attributes.
Remarkably, all 23 counties in Maryland have designated Rural Legacy Areas, underscoring the widespread commitment to preserving the state’s natural heritage. Over the course of its 24-year history, the program has permanently protected more than 120,885 acres of invaluable land.
For more information and a comprehensive list of grant awards, please visit the Board of Public Works website. The Department of Natural Resources will continue to submit individual contracts to purchase conservation easements to the Board of Public Works as specific transactions are submitted by the sponsors. This monumental effort reflects a collective commitment to safeguarding Maryland’s rural legacy for generations to come.
