ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Chesapeake Conservancy is urging the Maryland General Assembly to reject a recommendation from the state’s Department of Legislative Services (DLS) to eliminate all funding for land preservation programs through 2029. The recommendation comes as Maryland faces a projected $2.9 billion budget deficit, prompting tough fiscal decisions.
EJ Amyot, interim president and CEO of the Chesapeake Conservancy, expressed concern over the potential impact of the funding cuts on the state’s natural resources. In his 2025 State of the State address, Gov. Wes Moore emphasized the importance of conservation, stating, “Investing in conservation, environmental protection, and the Great Maryland Outdoors isn’t just the responsible thing to do – it will also help grow our economy.”
The proposed cuts would significantly affect Maryland’s land conservation efforts, parks, green spaces, heritage areas, public health, wildlife habitats, and outdoor recreation opportunities. According to Amyot, a real estate transfer tax of 0.5% provides dedicated revenue for these programs through Maryland’s Program Open Space, which was established to reserve land for green space as the state develops.
The Chesapeake Conservancy is calling on lawmakers to support Moore’s budget for conservation and outdoor spaces and to ensure that Program Open Space funds are used for their intended purpose: “protecting Maryland’s natural resources.”
The Charles County commissioners have agreed to send a letter opposing the DLS recommendation, emphasizing the importance of preserving funding for land conservation.
The DLS recommendation has raised alarms among environmental advocates, who warn that losing this funding would undermine decades of progress in land conservation across the state.
See the Chesapeake Conservancy statement here.
Contact our news desk at news@thebaynet.com
“Investing in conservation, environmental protection, and the Great Maryland Outdoors isn’t just the responsible thing to do – it will also help grow our economy.”
And?
And it will help grow the State’s debt and cost to tax payers.
“The Charles County commissioners have agreed to send a letter opposing the DLS recommendation, emphasizing the importance of preserving funding for land conservation.”
A stable, natural environmental base is needed for human health. Once that base has been destroyed, there’s no getting it back. Kudos to the CC commissioners for sticking up for the health of the county.