The facilities and services of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources are avail-
able to all without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national
origin, physical or mental disability.
This document is available in alternative format upon request from a qualied individual
with a disability.
MARYLAND’S
SOUTHERN REGION
The Southern Region of the Department of Natural
Resources – Forest Service consists of Anne Arundel,
Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s, and St. Mary’s
counties. The area covers 1,243,500 acres of land,
with 587,600 acres being forested.
The forested lands of Maryland provide many benets to
its citizens. They protect water, air and soil, and provide
forest products, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities
and aesthetic value.
Primarily non-industrial private landowners own the
forests of the Southern Region. Good stewardship helps
to ensure the continuity of this valued resource for all
Marylanders into the future. To help landowners care
for their land, the Maryland Forest Service has a variety
of programs to oer technical and nancial assistance.
These programs cover establishment, protection, plan-
ning and management of forests.
The Mission of the Maryland
Department of Natural Resources
The Department of Natural Resources preserves, protects,
enhances and restores Maryland’s natural resources for the wise
use and enjoyment of all citizens.
Maryland Forest Service Mission
To restore, manage, and protect Maryland’s trees,
forests, and forested ecosystems to sustain
our natural resources and connect people to the land.
Forest Service
Southern Region Oces
Anne Arundel County
8023 Long Hill Road
Pasadena MD 21122
Oce 410-360-8421
Fax 410-360-9875
Prince George’s & Calvert Counties
6904 Hallowing Lane
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
Oce 410-535-1303
Fax 410-535-5096
Charles County
PO Box 2746
LaPlata, MD 20646
Oce 301-934-2543
Fax 301-934-8685
St. Mary’s County
23110 Leonard Hall Drive, Room 1025
Carter Building, P.O. Box 1509
Leonardtown, MD 20650
Oce 301-880-2749
Fax 301-475-8527
Southern Regional Oce
23110 Leonard Hall Drive, Room 1025
Carter Building, P.O. Box 1509
Leonardtown, MD 20650
Oce 301-880-2745
Fax 301-475-8527
Publication #DNR 02-080117-15
Assistance for
Forest Landowners
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Tawes State Oce Building
580 Taylor Avenue, E-1
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone 410-260-8531
TTY via Maryland Relay: 711
800-735-2258 (Out of State)
Toll Free 877-620-8DNR ext. 8531
dnr.maryland.gov/trees
Larry Hogan, Governor
Mark Belton, Secretary
FOREST STEWARDSHIP
Forest Stewardship Plan This long-range plan provides
management recommendations that incorporate landowners
objectives and the capabilities of their resources. It may include
wildlife, forestry, recreation, soil and water management
recommendations. The plan provides an assessment of
the present condition of your forest and oers long-term
recommendations on how to best manage the resource to
receive the intended results. This type of plan is required to
apply for state and federal fund cost-share programs and
for participation in a Forest Conservation and Management
Agreement. To have a Forester write your plan, you must
own between 10 & 500 acres of forestland located in one
of our priority areas. Your local forester will determine if your
property qualies for plan assistance and provide you with the
schedule of fees associated with the preparation of your Forest
Stewardship Plan.
COST-SHARE PROGRAMS
Cost-share programs are available to assist landowners with the
costs of reforestation, site preparation and wildlife enhancement
activities. Funding for some programs may be available on a
limited basis. Fees charged by the Maryland Forest Service for
plan development and some technical services may NOT be
cost-sharable. Your local forester will advise you on the best
program(s) to fulll your objectives.
The Woodland Incentive Program provides 65 percent funding
for forestry practices on private, non-industrial forestland
ownerships 5 - 1,000 acres in size. Apply through your local
Maryland Forest Service oce.
The Environmental Quality Incentive Program oers cost-
share payments variable by practice. Landowners should con-
tact their local Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)
oce for current cost-share rates and to apply for this program.
Your local Maryland Forest Service oce can assist with the ap-
plication.
The Conservation Reserve Program and Conservation
Reserve Enhancement Programs provide nancial incentives
to establish vegetative (i.e. planting trees) buers along
waterways and establish cover on highly erodible lands. Apply
through your local Farm Servcies Agency oce to determine if
your farm acreage qualies.
MORE FORESTRY SERVICES
In addition to Forest Stewardship Plan preparation and
inspections, the Maryland Forest Service also provides the
following services.
Timber Stand Improvement Marking This involves the
physical marking of trees for rewood, pulpwood, seed tree
designation, routine thinnings, etc. The Maryland Forest
Service cannot mark sawtimber (trees > 12” DBH), volume
estimates, or determine appraised value. The fee is $12 per
acre marked.
Forestry Services Coordination Maryland Forest Service
professionals are available to coordinate forestry activities
that are provided by private sector vendors. This includes tree
plantings, site preparation, aerial spraying, non-commercial
timber stand improvement, etc. Coordination services are billed
at a rate of $4 per acre.
Planting Site Examinations The Maryland Forest Service will
conduct an on-site examination of any elds or open areas on
which landowners wish to plant trees or shrubs and prepare
a planting plan. A at fee of $40 is charged for this service.
Orders placed for tree seedlings from the John S. Ayton Tree
Nursery within four months of the exam will be credited $10
toward the cost of the seedlings.
Forestry Equipment Rental Certain specialized forestry
equipment is available for rent by private landowners for use on
both public and private lands. Please contact your local forestry
oce for equipment rental information.
JOHN S. AYTON
STATE FOREST TREE NURSERY
Located in Caroline County, this nursery grows 4 - 5 million
pine, hardwood and shrub seedlings each year. Orders are
taken on a rst come, rst served basis beginning in the fall
for seedlings that are shipped in the spring. The seedlings are
available, at cost, to the citizens of Maryland and Delaware,
and must be planted for conservation and reforestation
purposes. A seedling catalog can be obtained by calling the
nursery at 410-673-2467. Ordering information can also be
found at: dnr.nursery.dnr.maryland.gov.
TAX INCENTIVES
The Forest Conservation and Management Agreement
currently has property tax assessments for woodland at $125
per acre assessed value. The minimum woodlot size is ve
acres (six acres with house on property) and the minimum term
for the agreement is 15 years. These properties are inspected
for compliance once every ve years for $100 per inspection.
Entrance fees are based on assessed property values. A brochure
is available which details the program’s fees.
Woodland Assessment Counties allow the use of a Forest
Stewardship Plan prepared by a licensed forester as indication
of ongoing forestry activities as long as forestry management
is included in the stewardship plan. As such, property tax
assessments will be based on the woodland tax rate for the
county. The woodland tax rate is currently assessed at $187.50
per acre. The county assessor requires a letter of inspection from
a forester every three years. It must state the forestry work in
the plan has been followed. If this service is provided, there is a
$50 to $100 fee, depending on acreage and the follow-up letter to
the county assessor. There are no entrance or recordation fees
associated with this program.
The Maryland Income Tax Modication allows woodland
owners to deduct double the cost for reforestation and timber
stand improvement practices from the federal adjusted gross
income on the Maryland tax return. This deduction is applicable
for approved practices on properties with a total forest ownership
of 3 - 1,000 acres.
Public Law 96-451 – This Federal law allows for a 10 percent
7-year investment tax credit and a amortization for reforestation
projects.
Note:
* Certain activities are eligible to receive both Woodland
Incentive Program and Environmental Quality Incentive
Program assistance, up to 90 percent of cost.
* Fees charged by the Maryland Forest Service for plan
development and technical services may NOT be cost-
shareable.
* Fees for services are subject to change.
