See page 45 of the Forestry Strategy for quantifiable measures of progress

Assateague Coastal Trust has held native plant sales for 13 years. Baywise Landscapes is included in Master Gardener training sessions. The exact number of homeowners with BayScapes is unknown. Are there existing urban tree canopy goals?

1. 
   UMCE and MCBP will implement a "Master Gardener" program to educate homeowners and encourage use of the Woods in Your Backyard and Backyard Buffers programs. Supplemental – indicator: number of master gardeners
   
2. 
   MCBP and MDA will work with nurseries to ensure reasonable prices and availability of native plant species. Consolidate – combine with FW 2.3.2, keep MCBP as lead, remove MDA
   
3. 
   MCBP will establish demonstration projects. Supplemental – restoration projects
   
4. 
   DNR will identify and implement appropriate enhancement techniques for landowners interested in providing habitat for migratory songbirds by educating landowners on keeping lawns in a natural state (e.g., native trees, tall grasses and wildflowers). Modify by adding MCBP and UMCE
   
5. 
   WC will review all county-owned lands, including grounds of public facilities such as schools, to determine areas where native habitat enhancement is feasible through alternative management practices and/or by planting native vegetation. Keep
   

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  enhanced public awareness and appreciation of area flora and fauna
  
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  greater diversity of plant and animal species
  

1. 
   WSCD and MDA will encourage use of habitat enhancing BMPs in management plans (buffers, grasslands, etc.). Supplemental - track BMPs for TMDL implementation
   
2. 
   WSCD, MDE, DNR, and MDA will encourage restoration of riparian and wetland areas on previous crop or pasture land through existing programs and innovative funding sources. Modify – combine with FW 2.5.1 and consider writing a new action to reduce regulation
   
3. 
   UMCE will promote agricultural techniques or alternative crops that provide habitat. Institutionalized
   
4. 
   DNR and MDA will hold seminars to educate landowners on existing programs and demonstrate uses on enrolled lands. Keep – change the lead agency to NRCS and WC. LSLT is leading this effort.
   
5. 
   DNR will identify wildlife and plant species which may benefit from enhancements on agricultural lands. Modify to combine FW 2.5.3 and FW 2.5.4 to put special emphasis on grassland bird species which are the most imperiled.
   
6. 
   DNR will coordinate programs and techniques to focus on select wildlife species needs (e.g.,grassland nesting songbirds, migrating songbirds, shorebirds, etc.). Consolidate – combine this action with FW 2.5.5
   

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  cost effective means of providing habitat
  

New Indicator? – acres of farmland in Maryland Ag Land Preservation Program. Contact WSCD for advice

1. 
   Request that MCB become a watershed for Conservation Effects Assessment Project - a multiagency effort coordinated by NRCS to quantify the environmental benefit of conservation practices implemented on private lands, BMP efficiencies, & potential WQ benefits of wetland restoration projects.
   
2. 
   When available review the survey of Farming & Conservation Practices in the Chesapeake Bays Watershed (NRCS – in development) for information that will be useful for the Coastal Bays.
   

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  Measuring the "wood flow balance" of Maryland, that is, the production, consumption, inflow, and outflow of wood for Maryland's forests and forest industry. This is being measured at the primary processing level, and also at the end consumer level.
  
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  Based on this wood flow analysis, a conclusion can be reached as to the amount of forest land that is needed to sustain the current level of manufacturing activity and employment in the state's wood processing industry.
  
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  Conducting a general policy analysis examining existing forest retention and management policies from the perspective of retaining a working forest. This review and analysis will identify major cost-effectiveness issues and suggest new policy options that may warrant consideration.
  

1. 
   WC and DNR will work with the Maryland Forestry Task Force to examine potential incentives to facilitate development or retention of selected diverse forest types and/or selected management practices including mature forest and early successional habitat and considering likely effects of sea level rise and climate change. Options for forest restoration and conservation should consider effective targeting to areas with multiple ecosystem benefits, project designs that create multiple benefits, and tracking systems that verify creation of the intended habitats. Modify, to be covered through forest conservation
   
   1. 
      Target afforestation using Forest Conservation mitigation funds. Look for opportunities near new or existing forests, CREP buffers, Forest Legacy or Rural Legacy easements. (Do Not use FCA funds for County Parks or other urban plantings). Mitigation banks should be established with planting done in the same watershed.
      
   2. 
      Afforesting public lands- review public lands to determine areas that would benefit through restoration of trees.
      
   3. 
      MCBP will promote the conversion of unforested land to forest in sensitive areas such as those which are sandy, wet, riparian or otherwise inadequate or other productivity.
      
   4. 
      Determine sites within the watershed that have rare, threatened or endangered species and match these with groundwater recharge areas, wellhead protection sites, and sensitive areas with FIDS in order to prioritize high priority conservation areas.
      

2. 
   DNR will encourage forest management planning on at least 75% of forest land over the next 10 years, including insect/disease management options to help maintain healthy forests. Forest certification programs should be encouraged to better implement the principles of sustainable forestry. Institutionalized
   
3. 
   MCBP should work with a Forestry Task Force to develop policies and programs that support viable renewable resource-based rural businesses, renewable biomass energy projects, forest-based recreation opportunities, and high-priority conservation areas like GreenPrint. will form a workgroup with the MD Forestry Task Force to develop financial incentives such as property tax reductions for forestland managed under priority management goals (e.g., creation of forested wetlands, creation of high production timber forests), cost-share options, or other potential state and federal incentives. Modify – reconvene Coastal Bays Forestry Group to determine new actions & priorities.
   
4. 
   MCBP & WC will educate Homeowners Associations and the public on forest easement management and the ecological functions of forests, protection of diversity.
   
   1. 
      Urban forestry: Determine if WC, OC, Berlin & Ocean Pines have Urban Canopy Coverage goals. Consider modifying codes to retain percent coverage of trees and promote native tree diversity. [rewrite this for clarity, this could be a measureable goal & milestone for TMDL implementation]
      

Urban Tree Canopy recommendations from No Net Loss Forestry Task Force:

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  Use remote sensing data with one meter resolution (or greater);
  
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  Use data that was initially acquired/captured within the last five years;
  
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  Clearly define geographic boundaries of the assessment;
  
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  Include the percent land cover types, percent of land with tree canopy, percent imperviousness, and priorities for canopy enhancement; and
  
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  Update the assessment every 5-10 years.
  

Goal Setting:

Communities setting tree canopy goals should:

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  Adopt a local goal to increase tree canopy;
  
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  Outline a defined timeframe for attainment of the goal; and
  
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  Be developed by locally elected officials, local governing body for non-incorporated jurisdictions, non-profit organizations, or other entities.
  
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  Sub-goals may also be established for specific units within the community’s geographic area such
  

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  as parking lots, riparian forest buffers, public streets, public lands or industrial/commercial/institutional areas.
  

Implementation:

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  A communities’ implementation plan for enhancing urban tree canopy should include:
  
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  The percent increase in canopy cover and specified time intervals for attainment;
  
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  The relationship of the canopy goal to other local goals, ordinances or regulations;
  
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  Identification of priority sites for implementation (e.g., tree planting) and rationale for
  
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  selection; and,
  
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  Any resolutions, motions or minutes from governing bodies or boards endorsing the participation
  
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  in the program, the goals set by the community and plans for implementation.
  

Reporting, Evaluation, and Monitoring:

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  Identification of communities that have approved through their elected officials or governing
  

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  body, their willingness to implement an assessment, set local canopy goals, and develop a plan that
  
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  identifies measures to attain those goals;
  
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  Tree canopy assessments completed and associated findings;
  
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  Tree canopy assessments completed and associated findings;
  
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  Tree canopy goals established and approved;
  
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  Implementation plans developed and approved; and
  
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  An evaluation of each selected community’s progress towards completion of an assessment, goal
  
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  setting, plan development, and implementation. Maryland DNR will incorporate an evaluation method that includes measurable indicators with which to gauge progress such as number of trees planted, canopy lost, or forest acres protected from development (e.g., conservation easements).
  

The DNR Coastal Bays Forestry Strategy (April 2002) and the MCBP Forestry Workgroup (Nov. 2002) provided the following recommendations:

1. 
   Funding assistance programs for afforestation and management should expand incentives to private landowners; for CREP there should be an up-front incentive for planting hardwoods, and for FLEP/WIP funds should be targeted for 90% cost share for hardwoods and natural regeneration approaches.
   
   1. 
      Target afforestation using Forest Conservation mitigation funds. Opportunities near new or existing forests, CREP buffers, Forest Legacy or Rural Legacy easements. (Do Not use FCA funds for County Parks or other urban plantings). Mitigation banks should be established with planting done in the same watershed.
      
   2. 
      Afforesting public lands- review public lands to determine areas that would benefit through restoration of trees.
      
   3. 
      MCBP will promote the conversion of unforested land to forest in sensitive areas such as those which are sandy, wet, riparian or otherwise inadequate or other productivity.
      
2. 
   Coordinate the dissemination of available program literature among the Forest Service, NRCS/SCD, WC, MCBP and Cooperative Extension Service offices.
   
   1. 
      Develop a sample alternate plan under the Seed Tree Law to show landowners the options that allow hardwood and mixed forests. An information packet that clarifies the diverse capabilities of the Seed Tree Law (it is often interpreted as an incentive to plant pine) is needed to better communicate landowners options, rights and responsibilities.
      
   2. 
      Create fact sheets regarding mixed stand management, indicators and rationale for maintaining hardwood benefits, benefits for habitat from prescribed burning and restrictions on its use, results of lower rates of herbicide treatment in maintaining oak components, and cost effective thinning techniques.
      
3. 
   Provide more favorable tax treatment or no tax upon forestland, (DE exempts from taxation land with forestry plans). This would serve as additional monetary incentives for hardwood, riparian and older growth forests and wetlands.
   
4. 
   Preserve open space through zoning that promotes clustering in developments and upzone away from extensive forestland. Additionally, golf courses should not be an allowable use on A-1 zoned land.
   
5. 
   Educate Homeowners Associations on forest easement management and the ecological functions of forests, protection of diversity.
   
   1. 
      Urban forestry: Ocean Pines should modify codes to retain percent coverage of trees and promote native tree diversity.
      
6. 
   Forestry Management Plans and Practices
   
   1. 
      I
      Quantifiable terrestrial goal 
      ncrease landowner outreach efforts by a variety of stakeholders to result in 75% of private forest land having forest stewardship plans over the next 10 years. Remove the disincentive to farmers who have a combination of forest and crop land who are penalized for having forestry management plans (tax rates; $150/acre for those without farmland vs. $100/acre for those with farmland)- Woodland should not be taxed at a higher rate if at all.
      
   2. 
      Pursue forest certification on state forest lands and use these as demonstration sites. Offer training for alternative logging methods. Focus on non-game wildlife management vs. income.
      
   3. 
      Implement practices that retain natural hydrology on forestland. Wetland avoidance laws are often misinterpreted and enforcement is lax. If avoidance is not possible, then ditches should be plugged. Maximum road widths are necessary to keep ditches smaller. The practice of ditch management exemptions to drain wetlands for imminent development must stop.
      
7. 
   Conservation easements/estate planning:
   
   1. 
      adopt legislation that preserves landowners right to future harvest when conservation easements are sold or donated for tax benefits. Maintaining these rights allows more options for landowners to generate natural resource based income.
      
   2. 
      Determine sites within the watershed that have rare, threatened or endangered species and match these with groundwater recharge areas, wellhead protection sites, and sensitive areas with FIDS in order to prioritize high priority conservation areas.
      
   3. 
      Target forest blocks for recreation in the north County where there is little public land. Acquire easements for forest retention or sustainable forestry.
      
8. 
   Financially stable forest industry & renewable natural resource investment.
   
   1. 
      Provide a sales tax exemption for all equipment and pollution control devices directly used in the primary and secondary wood manufacturing process.
      
   2. 
      Support renewable energy projects that utilize biomass as a fuel source. Review the conclusions of the Renewable Natural Resource Priority Investment Task Force to determine State financial assistance potential.
      
   3. 
      Encourage DBED to work with local offices to promote the economic benefits of forest stewardship and industry in modernizing equipment and creating new businesses. Include favorable treatment for low impact harvesting equipment and BMP equipment and practices.
      

5. 
   DNR will compare currently recommended forestry BMP's with other state and federal guidelines and revise where needed. Modify – the Critical Area Law disallows harvesting. Soil & sediment erosion plans have been updated and introduced into legislation. Done?
   
6. 
   DNR will utilize the TEAM program to provide technical assistance and help monitor implementation and review compliance and effectiveness of BMP's for forest harvest and other silvicultural activities. Supplemental – use number and location of BMPs in TMDL implementation
   
7. 
   MCBP will educate the public regarding the compatibility and desirability of silviculture, as traditionally and responsibly practiced, with conservation easements to save open space. Supplemental – the action is complete, but we should create a new action for tracking and monitoring easements. Check with MET, LSLT, WC, Ducks Unlimited, Quail & Turkey Foundations, TNC, etc.
   

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  financially stable forestry industry
  
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  maintenance of watershed's rural character
  
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  improved stream and tributary habitat
  
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  richer species diversity
  

A cursory review of habitat projects by partners to conserve, enhance, rehabilitate, or establish tidal and non-tidal wetlands over eleven years indicates that about 21.6% of the 10,000 acre goal has been met. Partners have included NRCS, DNR, NOAA, ACOE, MDA, MDE, SHA, USFW and Worcester County. (Source: GPRA reports, MCBP). Tracking wetland projects has proven to be difficult and a closer review is warranted. Additionally, net loss for the same time period is unknown. Note that mitigation projects, particularly 35 acres of wetlands built by SHA during the dualization of Rt. 113, is not included.