Maryland Forest Conservation Act

The Maryland Forest Conservation Act requires counties in the state with less than 200,000 acres of forest to set aside forest acreage for preservation. Examples of community plans include Washington County, which maintains a Forest Conservation Ordinance providing that person proposing land development expected to remove 40,000 square feet or more of forest must submit a mitigation plan for the country planning commission. Mitigation options include retention or planting, natural regeneration, and payment-in lieu of planting or regeneration.