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What is GreenPrint?
GreenPrint is the State’s mapping tool to show how Maryland’s land conservation programs are meeting their goals (or “strategic targets”) and to show how these programs can work together to meet shared goals for rural landscape conservation. It also maps out a pathway for all partners in land conservation, including the public, private landowners, local government, State and federal agencies, land trusts and other natural resource interest groups, to support and work together with the State towards achieving healthy, productive and valuable rural landscapes for today’s citizens and for future generations. Targeting means identifying a goal and directing action to achieve it. Using the example of a dart board, your target may be a bulls-eye and you take careful aim to achieve that mark. In the world of land conservation, targets are mapped land areas that provide certain benefits to the public. Strategic targeting means that only the most important lands are selected as the “bulls-eyes”. Program Open Space Stateside has selected ecologically valuable lands (Targeted Ecological Areas) as its strategic targets.
Targeted Ecological Areas are lands and watersheds of high ecological value that have been identified as conservation priorities by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). These areas represent the most ecologically valuable areas in the State: they are the “best of the best”. These lands include large blocks of forests and wetlands, rare species habitats, aquatic biodiversity hotspots and areas important for protecting water quality. DNR mapped where these high priority lands are using a variety of methods developed by agency ecologists. These ecologically important areas have been designated as conservation targets for Program Open Space Stateside.
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