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April 2024 | Land Trust eNews
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Maryland Environmental Trust Spotlight |
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 Frank Allen Named 2024 Recipient of the Aileen Hughes Award
The Aileen Hughes Grant, part of the Keep Maryland Beautiful Grant Program, is awarded annually to an individual representing a Maryland land trust who demonstrates outstanding leadership, partnership and innovation in land conservation. This year's recipient of the Aileen Hughes Grant is Frank Allen, Executive Director of the Patuxent Tidewater Land Trust. Congratulations, Frank!
Visit Patuxent Tidewater Land Trust's website to learn more about Frank, the Patuxent Tidewater Land Trust team and their work to conserve land, remove invasive species, and support environmental stewardship in southern Maryland.
Share Your Land Trust's Protected Lands Data
The Maryland Environmental Trust, Maryland Department of Planning and Maryland Department of Natural Resources held a joint webinar on March 1, 2024. Participants learned more about a collaborative effort to collect and map the most comprehensive land trust and private conservation organization protected lands data. This webinar discussed the goals and purpose of the project, explained the data collection process, and allowed time for participant questions. Please contact Kevin Coyne at kevin.coyne@maryland.gov and Ellen Mussman at ellen.mussman@maryland.gov to ask questions or to arrange a meeting.
To participate in this year's data collection project please share you data by April 30.
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Last Chance to Register for MET's Land Trust Roundtable on April 30
Join MET for the next Land Trust Roundtable, Stewardship Challenges and Successes, on April 30, 2024.
This will be an interactive Roundtable which will focus on monitoring and stewardship challenges. Please bring your questions and experiences to share… because everyone does stewardship a little differently. To learn more or register visit the event page.
Registration is required. Registration closes on April 23, 2024.
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LSLT Welcomes New Executive Director
Matt Heim joined the Lower Shore Land Trust as the Executive Director in January, 2024. His career in the environmental field started in 2006 as a seasonal ranger at Assateague Island National Seashore. Matt served as the first director of the One Water Partnership program at Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake and helped expand the OWP program into multiple regions throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Prior to joining LSLT, Matt served as the Deputy General Manager of Delmarva Public Media where he helped establish partnerships with the Bay Journal and produce several special programs focusing on environmental issues pertinent to the Delmarva region. Read more.
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USFWS is Seeking Public Comments on a Proposed National Wildlife Refuge in Southern Maryland
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public review and comment on a draft proposal and environmental assessment establishing the Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s and St. Mary’s counties. The proposal would conserve up to 40,000 acres in fee-title acquisitions or easements from willing sellers across four watersheds, helping to conserve habitats that support threatened and endangered species, waterfowl and migratory birds of conservation concern. All comments must be received by April 22, 2024. Learn more.
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MPCA and APA MD to Host First Collaborative Conference
Save the Dates | October 20 – 22
Tackling challenging 21st century issues requires collaboration between engaged citizen planning boards and local planning departments. It takes an “all hands on board” approach to fuel sustainable development, creating vibrant places while protecting Maryland’s natural resources and supporting a healthy economy. To further this venture, the Maryland Planning Commissioners Association and the Maryland Chapter of the American Planning Association will hold their first combined annual conference in October 2024. Learn more.
USFS First Friday All Climate Change Talks
Online | Free
Service Research and Development. These webinars feature presentations from USDA scientists and practitioners. During these sessions, experts explore connections among climate, agriculture, nature, and people - and discuss their struggles, hazards, solutions and achievements. Learn more.
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Tools, Tech and Tutorials |
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 What are Wetlands, and How are Lands Trusts Protecting Them?
Whether it be through the provision of clean water, acting as a source of food or protecting us from extreme weather events, healthy wetlands are critical ecosystems.
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 Bird Migration Explorer
The Bird Migration Explorer is your guide to the heroic annual journeys made by over 450 bird species. Learn more about a species, the migratory birds at a specific location, or a conservation challenge birds face.
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 2020 Resources Planning Act Assessment
The 2020 Resources Planning Act Assessment is the latest in a series of reports, that can inform how you monitor and assess landscape health, determine changing needs, and develop desired conditions and objectives.
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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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