Maryland Is Looking For Volunteers To Help Protect Local Forests

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Department of Natural Resources and the Maryland Forestry Foundation are seeking volunteers to serve on forestry boards throughout the state. Active across every county in 2026, the volunteers on forestry boards help support events, tree plantings and educational programs in Maryland, among other opportunities. Each county is connected to a specific regional district, including Central, Eastern, Southern or Western Maryland.

Forestry boards throughout Maryland have worked to connect communities with caretakers for the local forests for more than 80 years. Last spring, the Department of Natural Resources opted to reorganize the Forest Conservancy District Board structure by categorizing it into regions instead of counties.

Volunteers can still connect with counties individually, but the increased collaboration offers greater coordination between communities that may share watersheds and forests. Maryland’s initial call for volunteers stressed that forests don’t stop where county lines begin, indicating that this new structure will aid in keeping landscapes better maintained.

The increased collaboration will help preserve our forests by offering new ways for communities to work side by side on a variety of issues. Each regional board will offer opportunities for leaders of neighboring counties to work together on local projects and share resources, making it easier to conserve the greater environment across Maryland.

Environmental organizations like the Maryland Forestry Foundation and the Chesapeake Beach Green Team contribute to keeping our state clean and maintained, and you can be a part of the effort today. Continue reading to find out how to volunteer for a forestry board in Maryland.

How Can Maryland Residents Get Involved With A Forestry Board?

If you want to help preserve the forests of Maryland, then volunteering for a forestry board is a great option. By following these links, you’ll find information on how to contact the respective boards in Calvert County, Charles County and St. Mary’s County so that you can complete the required application process.

Marylanders who are interested in getting further involved with a forestry board can visit the Maryland Forestry Foundation website to fill out an application. Before filling out the form, reach out to your local county’s forestry board to receive a letter of recommendation from a board officer.

More environmental volunteer opportunities are available on the Maryland Department of Natural Resources web page. For those with questions about forestry boards or volunteering, contact forestryboards.dnr@maryland.gov.

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