Sustainable Forestry Council

Over the past several years, multiple reports, directives and laws have made plain that working lands like forests and farms are critical to Maryland's economy, community and environment. These have included the Sustainable Forestry Act of 2009, Chesapeake Forest Conservation Directive 06-1 and The State of Chesapeake Forests report. The Sustainable Forestry Council utilized the findings of these previous efforts and new information to advise the Department of Natural Resources on timely forest conservation issues and appropriate actions to help Maryland implement a no net loss of forest policy. The recommended actions build on existing programs and regulations including the recent development of Watershed Implementation Plans to meet the Total Maximum Daily Load requirements for the Chesapeake Bay, the Forest Conservation Act, and local planning and zoning requirements. Click here to read the Council’s report.

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The Sustainable Forestry Act of 2009 (SB549) was landmark legislation that expressed the importance of Maryland’s forest to the environmental and economic well-being of the State. One section of the Act replaced the Forest Advisory Commission with the Sustainable Forestry Council. The purpose of this Governor appointed Council is to advise the Department on all matters related to:

  1. sustainable forestry management in the State,
  2. the expenditure of funds from the Woodland Incentive Fund,
  3. existing regulatory and statutory policies that are perceived as economic barriers to a viable forest products industry,
  4. new markets to enhance forest health, including renewable energy development through biomass energy, to offset fossil fuel consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,
  5. creative strategies to help privately owned forest lands better compete with real estate market values that are driving forest conversion and fragmentation,
  6. the means to promote forest-based economies and processing capability that contribute to economic and employment growth and
  7. assigning a nutrient benefit to forest stewardship plans and other forest conservation management plans that can be measurably tracked and reported by the number of forested acres covered by the plans. 

The Council will be staffed by the Department of Natural Resources – Forest Service.

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Meeting Dates


Previous Meetings

2023 Meetings

 

January 26, 2023


April 19, 2023


July 25, 2023


October 27, 2023


December 19, 2023


2022 Meetings

 

January 6, 2022


March 16, 2022


May 3, 2022


July 6, 2022


September 14, 2022


December 6, 2022



2021 Meetings

 

January 19, 2021


April 20, 2021


July 20, 2021


September 1 - 3, 2021


December 14, 2021


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2020 Meetings

 

January 27, 2020


May 26, 2020


September 22, 2020


November 10, 2020



2019 Meetings

 

February 12, 2019


April 9, 2019


July 11, 2019


October 28, 2019


December 13, 2019



2018 Meetings

 

January 22, 2018


August 28, 2018


November 2, 2018


December 20, 2018



2017 Meetings

 

January 27, 2017


May 22, 2017


September 14, 2017


December 4, 2017



2016 Meetings

 

January 19, 2016


March 22, 2016


June 7, 2016


September 27, 2016


December 13, 2016


Presentation:



2015 Meetings

 

March 5, 2015


May 12, 2015


September 15, 2015


December 1, 2015


Presentations​

2014 Meetings

2013 Meetings

2012 Meetings

2011 Meetings

2010 Meetings


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Sustainable Forestry Council Members - 2020

Alberto Goetzl, Chair
Dream Catcher Farm, LLC
Adamstown, MD 21710

Gary Allen
Center for Chesapeake Communities
Annapolis, MD 21401

Kim Finch, Vice-Chair
MNCPPC, Prince George’s County Planning Department
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772

Bryan Seipp
Center for Watershed Protection
Ellicott City, MD 21043

Elizabeth Hill
Dorchester Forestry Board
Linkwood, MD 21835

Donnelle Keech
The Nature Conservancy
Cumberland, MD 21502

Bill Rees
Catonsville Tree Canopy Committee, Utility Arborist Association
Catonsville, MD 21228 ​​​


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