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Maryland Environmental Trust Hosts 2009 Maryland Land Trust Alliance Conference
Laurel, MD — The Maryland Environmental Trust (MET) will host the annual Maryland Land Trust Alliance Conference on Tuesday, May 19 at the Patuxent Research Refuge National Wildlife Visitor Center in Laurel. The Patuxent Research Refuge is the perfect venue for the conference, with over 12,000 acres devoted to wildlife research supporting a wide diversity of wildlife in forest, meadow, and wetland habitats.
“We are delighted to offer a broad range of topics and subjects and are certain that participants will leave invigorated and inspired by this opportunity for training and the exchange of new ideas within the land trust community in the Maryland,” said MET Director Elizabeth Buxton.The Conference will provide sessions on GIS mapping tools, the valuing of natural resources, conservation easement permanence issues, and environmental financing, as well as updates and briefings from the Land Trust Alliance and land conservation programs. Details are available on the registration website.
The Conference 2009 Keynote Speaker will be Ian J. Plant, a critically-acclaimed photographer of natural landscapes and wildlife.
Two annual awards for land conservation will be presented at the Maryland Land Trust Alliance Conference:
- The Dillon Award for Outstanding Conservationist Landowner is made to a landowner from the donated easement program showing exemplary commitment to land preservation, through promotion of land protection by inspiration and education. MET must be a party to the conservation easement. The Award is named in honor of sisters Alverta and Louise Dillon who donated a perpetual conservation easement and then bequeathed their entire Garrett County property to MET in 1984.
- The Aileen Hughes Award for Leadership in Land Conservation is given to an individual representing a Maryland land trust for leadership, partnership and innovation in a conservation project. The Award honors the late Aileen Hughes, a leader in the conservation movement who was also a supporter of women’s and civil rights.
A statewide land trust governed by a citizen board of trustees, the Maryland Environmental Trust was established in 1967 by the Maryland General Assembly to preserve privately owned farm and forest lands and significant natural resources. MET is one of the oldest and most successful land trusts in the country. It holds 979 easements and has protected over 120,000 acres across the state. MET promotes the protection of open land through its Land Conservation Program, Monitoring and Stewardship Program and Local Land Trust Assistance Program. MET also provides grants to environmental education projects through the Keep Maryland Beautiful Program. For more information, visit www.dnr.maryland.gov/met and www.conservemd.org.
May 8, 2009 Contact: Josh Davidsburg
410-260-8002
jdavidsburg@dnr.state.md.usMaryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov