How does the law work?

• When highway construction using State funds causes the cutting or clearing of forests lands, the Maryland Reforestation Law requires that these trees ​be replaced. While construction activities by private citizens don't fall under this law, the impact of the Maryland Reforestation Law on the statewide greenscape cover is huge.

  Replacement of forest cleared for highway construction must be accomplished on an acre-for-acre, one to one ratio on public lands and within a two years or three growing seasons of the completion of the project. Attempting to locate reforestation sites within the same county or watershed as the impacted area is given the first priority. If this is not possible the constructing agent (usually SHA) can purchase credits in a forest mitigation bank. If this is not possible, then the constructing agent can deposit into the Reforestation Fund, ten cents per square foot or $4,356 per acre for the total cleared area. This fund is used by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to plant replacement trees.
  
  Since being enacted in 1989, 2173 acres of forested land have been cleared by highway construction and 2487 acres have been replanted for a net gain of 314 acres (figures through 2005). As you can see the Maryland Reforestation Law plays a big role in mitigating the loss of forest cover due to highway construction. This is a win/win situation: we improve our transportation system and maintain our greenscape.
  

Form:

• Reforestation site review form available in Adobe Acrobat format

When does it apply?
All highway construction projects utilizing $1 or more of State funding must do mitigation related forest impact. The purpose of the Marylnad Reforestation Law is to minimize forest disturbance during highway construction activities.

What is required?
Along with a set of the project's construction plans, a Reforestation site review form available in Adobe Acrobat format is required.

Where should these plans be sent?

• Central Region
  Montgomery, Howard, Baltimore, Harford, Carroll and Cecil Counties
  Maryland Department of Natural Resources
  Forest Service
  2 South Bond Street, Ste. 101
  Bel Air, MD 21014
  410-260-8511 


• Eastern Region
  Kent, Queen Anne's, Caroline, Talbot, Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester Counties
  Maryland Department of Natural Resources
  Forest Service
  201 Baptist Street #22
  Salisbury, MD 21801
  
  
• Southern Region
  Anne Arundel, Prince George's, Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's Counties
  Maryland Department of Natural Resources
  Forest Service
  8023 Long Hill RD E-1
  Pasadena, MD 21122
  410-260-8531


• Western Region
  Garrett, Allegany, Washington and Frederick Counties
  Maryland Department of Natural Resources
  Forest Service
  14110 Pleasant Valley Rd
  Flintstone, MD 21530
  301-777-5591

 

Contact Info:

​​Daniel Coy, Urban & Community Forestry Supervisor​
E-mail: daniel.coy@maryland.gov