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October 2023 | Land Trust eNews
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Maryland Environmental Trust Spotlight |
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 Capacity Building Grants for Maryland’s Land Trusts
Maryland Environmental Trust, a unit of the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Agriculture, and the Chesapeake Bay Trust, are partnering to accept applications for this year’s Keep Maryland Beautiful Grants program. These grants are offered annually to nonprofit organizations, communities, and land trusts in Maryland to support environmental education projects, community stewardship, and the protection of natural resources in urban and rural areas.
The deadline to apply for funding is November 15, 2023. Awards will be announced in March 2024. About $318,000 is available for this year’s grant round. This year, three different Keep Maryland Beautiful grants will be offered in the following categories:
- community stewardship grants for volunteer groups, nonprofits, local governments, and schools;
- capacity building grants for Maryland’s land trusts; and
- grants for nonprofits to implement forestry projects on agricultural land.
Also, don't forget to nominate a representative from your land trust or another Maryland land trust for the 2024 Aileen Hughes Award! The Aileen Hughes Award is presented annually to an individual representing a Maryland land trust who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in land conservation -- including, but not limited to, executive directors, program staff, and board members. Funding is awarded to a land trust on behalf of an individual and their good work, rather than to the individual themselves. Past recipients of the Aileen Hughes Award are listed here.
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 Kate Patton, Lower Shore Land Trust Executive Director, Announces Retirement
The executive director of the Lower Shore Land Trust will retire at the end of the year.
After nearly two decades of leading conservation efforts in Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset counties, Kate Patton announced last week she will be stepping down as executive director of the Lower Shore Land Trust at the end of the year. As she makes her transition into retirement, Patton said she feels confident she is leaving the organization in capable hands.
“I think the organization is as strong as it’s ever been, and that’s the legacy I want to leave,” she said. “And being able to walk away knowing there’s a really strong team and a dedicated board makes me feel good.”
Patton joined the Lower Shore Land Trust as its executive director in 2006, following a 16-year career as operator of the Globe Theater in Berlin. With a background in environmental advocacy and management, she said she found a second, fulfilling career at the organization.
At the start of her tenure, Patton said the Lower Shore Land Trust had no staff and a small budget. She said the next 18 years were spent growing the organization and building partnerships.
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Climate Adaptation for Land Trusts (Short Course)
October 25-November 15 | Online Course
The Land Trust Alliance and Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science are offering an online course designed for land trusts actively working on stewardship projects in forests, suburban and urban forests, forested watersheds and wetland systems. It will be held over four weeks requiring 4.5 hours of virtual live classes, a self-guided field session and assignments. Instructors will provide guidance, weekly check-ins and coaching. Learn more.
Coldwater Stream Habitat Community Forum form
Date and Time TBD | Free
A team representing USGS-Conte, Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife, and the University of Massachusetts are building a network of people and organizations interested in advancing our knowledge of current and future coldwater stream habitat in the northeastern United States. Establishing this network is a central component to a new multi-year project supported by the USGS Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center. For more information on the project goal and project team, see the summary in the last section of the registration form. Learn more.
Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference
November 16 | Registration Fee
Struggling to stay updated on the latest in agricultural and environmental regulations? Look no further! The Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference (AELC), proudly presented by the Agriculture Law Education Initiative (ALEI), is a one-of-a-kind occasion that unites professionals from Maryland’s agriculture, conservation, and legal sectors. Learn more.
Forever Maryland Shares Post Conference Information
Information Online
This year’s Maryland Land Conservation Conference celebrated 30 years of convening and attracted nearly 200 daily attendees, two dozen sponsors and nearly 50 speakers. Forever Maryland was proud to bring together land trusts, nonprofits, government leaders, community leaders, farmers, academics, scientists and more for a comprehensive discussion about the present and future challenges facing conservation in Maryland and the Mid Atlantic. Learn more.
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Tools, Tech and Tutorials |
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 Interactive Maryland StreamHealth Map
Maryland has over 10,000 miles of rivers and streams that reach through every corner of our State – from the Appalachians to the Eastern Shore. This website is provided as a resource on the health of Maryland’s streams, factors that impact that health, and to direct you to ways that you can become actively involved in protecting and restoring your streams.
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 Spotted Lanternfly Management for Residents
Spotted lanternfly is a type of planthopper insect that feeds in large groups on a wide range of plants including grapes, peaches, apples, walnuts, oaks, and pines. Spotted lanternfly was first discovered in Berks County, Pennsylvania in 2014. A shipment of stone imported from Asia was contaminated with spotted lanternfly egg masses.
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 Are Forestlands in the United States Sustainable?
That is a hard question to answer. That's why the 2020 National Report on Sustainable Forests, newly released by the USDA Forest Service, relies on seven criteria and over 50 indicators to assess US forests. These criteria and indicators, aligning with the internationally recognized Montréal Process, evaluate forest sustainability through multiple lenses.
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Share Your News
If you would like to share relevant conservation news, success stories, announcements or events with Maryland's land trusts and conservation partners through this publication, please contact Michelle Grafton by the first of each month at michelle.grafton@maryland.gov.
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