Purpose
The Forest Conservation and Management Program (FCMP) provides landowners with a financial incentive to conserve and responsibly manage their forestland. By offering reduced and stabilized property tax assessments, the program makes it easier for landowners to maintain forest cover and commit to long-term stewardship.
Forests are among Maryland’s most valuable natural resources. They protect water quality and soils, provide habitat for fish and wildlife, store carbon, improve air quality, and support rural economies through wood products and recreation. The FCMP recognizes that private forests provide benefits to all Marylanders, and it creates a practical partnership between landowners and the State to sustain these resources for future generations.
Eligibility
Any property owner with five or more contiguous acres of forestland may apply to the program. Eligible land includes forested tracts, newly reforested land once it has completed one growing season, and Christmas tree plantations if the trees are harvested at maturity. Areas such as house sites, crop fields, and other non-forest open land are not eligible for enrollment.
Forest Conservation and Management Agreements
Enrollment in the program is established through a Forest Conservation and Management Agreement (FCMA) between the landowner and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. This agreement is legally binding, recorded in county land records, and guided by a forest management plan prepared specifically for the property.
The minimum term of an agreement is fifteen years. During this period, the forestland included in the agreement receives a reduced property tax assessment—generally at the agricultural rate—which remains frozen for the life of the agreement.
Agreement Changes and Termination
Agreements may be amended to increase or decrease acreage and can be transferred to a new owner if the buyer accepts the management responsibilities. If an agreement is broken—whether through failure to follow the management plan, sale of the property without transfer, or voluntary withdrawal—back taxes are assessed retroactively to the beginning of the agreement.
Program Impact
The FCMP has proven to be one of Maryland’s most effective tools for encouraging sustainable forestry on private land. At present, approximately 1,300 agreements are in place, covering more than 84,000 acres of forestland statewide.
Learn More
To find out whether a Forest Conservation and Management Agreement is right for your property, or to begin the application process, contact your local Maryland Forest Service office. Forestry staff are available to answer questions, explain program requirements, prepare or review forest management plans, and guide landowners through enrollment.
Find your local Maryland Forest Service office
