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March 2025 | Land Trust eNews
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Maryland Environmental Trust Spotlight |
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 Save the Date
Mark your calendars for the next Land Trust Roundtable on May 15, 2025. More details about this in-person event will be available soon.
Does Your Land Trust's Cooperative Agreement Expire in 2025?
Don't wait until the last minute! Start the process to renewal your land trust's Cooperative Agreement today.
The Cooperative Agreement sets out the relationship with MET and a land trust organization to clarify roles and establish common understanding. The purpose of the Agreement is to advance land conservation by working collaboratively to support mutual goals and activities.
MET periodically revises the Cooperative Agreement to better define partnership expectations, priorities, and to align with best practices. At their September 2024 meeting the MET Board of Trustees approved revisions to MET’s Cooperative Agreement. The new Cooperative Agreement template is available on MET's website. For more information or to renew your Agreement contact Michelle at michelle.grafton@maryland.gov.
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DNR to Acquire Property to Establish First State Park in Wicomico County
The Maryland Board of Public Works in February approved the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) moving forward with the purchase of the 445-acre Graham property, which will become the first Maryland State Park in Wicomico County. The property had previously been conserved by an easement donated to MET by its landowner Donald Graham in 2015.
MET played a role in setting up the first meeting between Mr. Graham and other DNR staff in 2022 to explore the possibility of this property becoming a State Park. We are thrilled that this wonderful property is being purchased for that purpose and will eventually be open to the public! Read more.
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New Trails Now Open at Former Bay Club in Berlin with Additional Environmental Improvements Planned
New trails are available for adventurous hikers at the former Bay Club property in Worcester County, and soon local residents and visitors will see a number of environmental improvements coming to the property that’s now managed by the Maryland Forest Service. Working with the Lower Shore Land Trust, DNR acquired the property from a local land development company using funds from Program Open Space.
The Forest Service opened the property to the public in August 2023 and the area now also provides opportunities for hunting, trapping, hiking and biking. These trails are open but still unmaintained, the remnants of old cart paths and access roads, so boots and appropriate outdoor clothing are recommended if you plan on exploring them. Read more.
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Measuring What Matters: Planetary Health & the Genuine Progress Indicator
Recorded webinar | Free
Join the Maryland Forest Foundation to learn how the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) provides citizens and policymakers with insight into how our environment, society, and economy combine to affect the well-being of people. Learn more.
Bats and Sustainable Forest Management
Recorded webinar | Free
The northern long-eared and tri-colored bats are listed as endangered! What are the implications for forest management? Join us for a presentation by EPA Ecosystems planning staff on the available tools, options, and impacts. Learn more.
The New Federal Landscape
Online
The Land Trust Alliance is creating opportunities for land trusts to come together, and to providing its members with tools, resources and information to help them navigate the shifting sands of this new landscape. LTA's new webpage, The New Federal Landscape, shares updates and resources to help your land trust navigate a rapidly-changing landscape. Learn more.
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Tools, Tech and Tutorials |
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 Guide to Maryland’s Bats
Maryland's 10 species of bats occurring in Maryland are considered to be  Species of Greatest Conservation Need. In Maryland, all of our bat species fall into the Microchiroptera group and eat insects such as mosquitos, stinkbugs, moths, and more.
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The University of Maryland Extension's Wildlife Management - Beneficial Birds series of Fact Sheets highlights several bird species that can assist woodland owners in managing rodents and other pests.
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 NatureServe Explorer Pro
The NatureServe Explorer Pro is a web-based interactive map, powered by geographic information system technology, that allows users to access data about rare and endangered species and ecosystems throughout North America.
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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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