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Although many people think of Maryland as a naturally forested state, grasslands
have always been an important part of our natural landscape, whether created by
fire, agriculture, grazing, or beaver ponds. Grasslands support a variety of
unique species not found in forests, including many rare birds such as the
Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, and Dickcissel.
The Landowner Incentive Program is addressing this issue by
working with landowners to create and maintain grasslands on private property. In Caroline County, LIP is offering payments to farmers to
fallow their fields for three years in order to provide habitat for bobwhite
quail and other grassland bird species. In Talbot County, LIP will be funding a project to test
different methods of thinning overgrown grasslands, and using the results to
educate nearby landowners about grassland maintenance options. In Garrett, Cecil, and Anne Arundel Counties, LIP is funding
grassland and serpentine barrens maintenance through the removal of
aggressive invasive plants, including Autumn Olive and Multiflora Rose. |
However,
with the widespread conversion of farmland either to development or regenerating
forest, along with more efficient farming techniques, grassland habitat is in
decline.