| From the Secretary Home |
Update and Thank You
Dear Friends --
As we celebrate the arrival of 2008 and begin the work of a new year and a new legislative session, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your support over the past year and to congratulate you on our shared achievements. I am extremely pleased to report that we have already enjoyed some significant successes in only the first year under the innovative vision and leadership of Governor Martin O’Malley, and have set the stage for even more progress in the years ahead. None of this would have been possible without you.
After just one year State Government really is working again for Marylanders and, of particular importance to us, our natural resources.
- BayStat is now helping us track and target our Bay restoration programs and progress, bringing agencies together to better plan and coordinate our work to get the most out of available restoration dollars.
- A new Chesapeake Bay Trust Fund will provide $50 million in new funding this year alone to focus on targeted areas and the most cost effective programs to accelerate Bay restoration progress.
- Fisheries funding has been enhanced, and funding for many other important conservation programs is being maintained despite a challenging budget climate.
- After years of neglect, our State Parks are receiving $4 million in (much needed) additional funding. This funding will help to once again put our Parks at the forefront of the Governor’s efforts to serve the working families of Maryland and promote sustainable environmental policies.
- Your Program Open Space dollars are once again doing what they were designed to do -- fund land preservation and local recreation projects.
- And, looking ahead, the efforts of the newly created Climate Change Commission, an Oyster Advisory Commission, a Fisheries Management Task Force, a Working Waterfront Commission, a Boating Task Force and our Office for a Sustainable Future are already guiding our work for 2008 and beyond.
These accomplishments belong to all of us -- our elected leaders, our employees, and you, our friends and stakeholders.
Over the next few weeks, Governor O’Malley will be rolling out his legislative agenda for 2008, which will include more “green” initiatives. Efforts to do a better job of Bay restoration, protecting our forests and defending our critical areas are expected. We anticipate important progress in addressing challenges associated with climate change. We also know, based on our experience of the past year that we will be asked to constantly and carefully target our scarce financial and staffing resources where they can make measurable differences for our natural resources and current and future generations who enjoy and depend upon them.
All of us at DNR are looking forward to working with you to make 2008 another banner year for our State, our citizens and our resources. We remain truly grateful for your effort as we recognize what extraordinary results we can achieve as One Maryland.
Sincerely,
John Griffin
January 31, 2008