Maryland's 2.5 million acres of private forestland are owned and managed by individuals, families, and businesses across the state. The Maryland Forest Service provides technical assistance, cost-share programs, and direct field support to help private landowners manage their forests for timber production, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, reforestation, and long-term ownership goals. Use this page to find the right program or service for your land.
Stewardship and Landowner Assistance
MFS foresters work directly with private landowners to develop forest management plans and connect landowners with programs that match their goals. The Forest Stewardship Program provides the foundation for most private landowner assistance, supported by the Woodland Assessment Program for landowners seeking a first look at their forest's condition and management options. The Forest Conservation and Management Program (FCMP) is also available for eligible landowners. Cost-share assistance is available to help offset the cost of implementing approved management practices. The Forest Legacy Program provides conservation easement opportunities for private landowners seeking to protect forestland from conversion. Consulting forester directories and the American Tree Farm System are available for landowners seeking independent professional guidance or certification.
Restoration and Tree Planting
Reforestation on private land serves multiple goals: restoring forest cover on marginal agricultural land, improving wildlife habitat, and building long-term timber value. The John S. Ayton State Tree Nursery produces bare-root native seedlings available at low cost for qualifying planting projects. Cost-share programs are available to offset the cost of site preparation, planting, and early maintenance. The White Oak Initiative supports landowners managing for white oak regeneration, connecting them with timber markets and technical resources that make long-term white oak management economically viable.
Watershed Forestry and Agroforestry
Forests play a central role in protecting Maryland's water quality. Trees and woody vegetation along streams, farm edges, and drainage corridors filter sediment and nutrients, stabilize banks, moderate stream temperatures, and reduce runoff before it reaches local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay. The Maryland Forest Service provides technical assistance to landowners, farmers, and local governments for riparian buffer establishment, watershed reforestation, and forest management practices that protect water quality on private land.
Agroforestry integrates trees and shrubs into crop and livestock systems to improve productivity, reduce erosion, and diversify farm income. Practices include riparian forest buffers, windbreaks, alley cropping, silvopasture, and forest farming. MFS staff work in partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and local Soil Conservation Districts to connect agricultural landowners with technical and financial assistance for agroforestry practices.
Forest Health and Resilience
Invasive insects, diseases, and plants are active threats to Maryland's private forestland. Emerald ash borer is established statewide and has killed most of Maryland's ash trees. Spotted lanternfly quarantine now covers all 24 Maryland jurisdictions as of March 2026. Beech leaf disease has been confirmed in Maryland and is spreading with no treatment available at the forest scale. Hemlock woolly adelgid threatens eastern hemlock in western Maryland riparian areas. Invasive plants including tree-of-heaven, Japanese barberry, and multiflora rose are present in every county and suppress native regeneration, particularly following disturbance or harvest. MFS staff provide on-site assessments and identification assistance for landowners concerned about conditions on their property. The Maryland Department of Agriculture leads statewide pest monitoring and regulatory response.
Working Forests and Utilization
Timber harvest is one of the primary tools foresters use to manage forest composition, encourage regeneration, and maintain long-term productivity on private forestland. The Maryland Master Logger Program, administered through UMD Extension, trains and certifies logging contractors working on public and private lands. Master Logger certification is required for all operators on Maryland State Forest timber sales. MFS Best Management Practices for Forest Harvests set the standard for protecting water quality during harvest operations. The Forest Products Operator Search helps landowners locate licensed sawmills, wood chippers, and firewood suppliers.
