Maryland Environmental Trust Newsletter: March 2022

Maryland Department of Natural Resources sent this bulletin at 03/07/2022 11:02 AM EST

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Protecting Land Forever!

MET Easement Landowner Survey

We want to improve our communication with you. To update your contact information with Maryland Environmental Trust, please scan the QR code or click this link and complete the easement landowner survey form. Thanks in advance!

March 20th is Keep Maryland Beautiful Day

In 2017, Governor Larry Hogan proclaimed March 20th as “Keep Maryland Beautiful Day," celebrating Maryland’s new affiliation with Keep America Beautiful, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to volunteer-based community improvement and beautification. The initiative included the Clean Up & Green Up grant, funded by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development to provide fiscal support for litter removal projects across Maryland. The Clean Up & Green Up grant joined the long standing Keep Maryland Beautiful Grant s Program.

Founded in 1957, the Keep Maryland Beautiful Program was the forerunner to Maryland Environmental Trust (created in 1967). This grant program is MET's longest running program. Over the years, the program has expanded thanks to a robust partnership between the Maryland Environmental Trust (a unit of the Department of Natural Resources), Maryland Department of Transportation, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, and the nonprofit Forever Maryland. Combined, this partnership has provided more than a million dollars over the past two decades to nonprofits, schools, and local land trusts that work to protect natural resources while enhancing the lives of Maryland citizens and generations to come.

This year's Keep Maryland Beautiful grant award recipients will be announced on Keep Maryland Beautiful Day, March 20, 2022. Stay tuned to learn more about this year's recipients!

Fresh Vegetables from MET Protected Land Delivered to Shepherd's Table

All winter long, Koiner Farm in Silver Spring, Maryland has been delivering fresh greens and root vegetables to Shepherd's Table. Koiner Farm is protected by a conservation easement jointly held by Maryland Environmental Trust and the Charles Koiner Conservancy. This roughly one acre easement property is an active urban farm and open space gem in the heart of downtown Silver Spring.

According to Christina Moore, director of meal services at Shepherd's Table, the effort includes three meals served each weekday, and brunch and dinner on weekends and holidays. “It’s all very much a collaborative effort,” Moore said. “We piece together what we get from different donors to make these incredible meals.” Read more about Charles Koiner Conservancy's partnership with Shepherd's Table.

Hike Planned on MET Conserved Land to Celebrate Maryland Day

On Saturday, March 26th Scenic Rivers Land Trust will host an in-person guided hike of the conserved Contee Farm portion of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Maryland.

Maryland Environmental Trust and Scenic Rivers Land Trust worked with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center to protect this property by a conservation easement in 2008. Located in Anne Arundel County, the easement protects more than 575 acres of forests and farmland overlooking the Rhode River.

Join Scenic Rivers Land Trust to learn more about the history of the land and take in spectacular views of this protected property. This event is free, but space is limited and registration is required.

SUPPORT the long term stewardship of more than 1,100 conservation easements held by Maryland Environmental Trust with a tax deductible contribution to the MET's Stewardship Fund.

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MARYLAND ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST | dnr.maryland.gov/met