Outside Perspective
An anniversary message from Secretary Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio

Fifty years ago, Governor Marvin Mandel replaced the former Board of Natural Resources with the cabinet-level Department of Natural Resources and our operations began. As we celebrate this milestone, the department is proud of the fact that our work is making a difference in every county and community across Maryland. Read more.

Take a Tour of "America in Miniature"
by Lieutenant Governor Boyd Rutherford

If you look at a map of the United States, Maryland appears small -- so small that depending on the map, you may hardly be able to see it at all. But when you're here, the land of the Free State is actually quite expansive and diverse. When it comes to the love that people have for their land, there is nothing miniature about Maryland. Read more.

Back from the Brink
Once Almost Extinct in Maryland, Three Species Survive!

In terms of wildlife, with many species predating the time humans arrived on the scene, 50 years may not seem like a long time.

But as the Maryland Department of Natural Resources celebrates our 50th anniversary this year, we can look back on the Maryland of 1969 and see that significant changes have taken place. Read more.

Preserving the Past, Protecting the Future
Program Open Space Continues Tradition of Conservation

Four centuries ago, Captain John Smith discovered the Chesapeake Bay and its surrounding region of thick forests, fertile valleys, serene rivers, rolling mountains, lush marshes and sandy beaches. Smith's view of this "delightsome land" has since been transformed by centuries of development.

Along with the Department's 50th anniversary, Maryland's Program Open Space is also celebrating its 50th year of leading land conservation in the state. Read more.