Maryland Approves Protection For 27,000 Acres
Maryland Governor Parris Glendening won approval Wednesday for two land conservation deals that will cost the state about $19 million.
The deals, which will protect about 27,000 acres of land on Maryland’s Eastern Shore from development, raised controversy because the state is facing a budget shortfall of about $1.7 billion.
In the larger deal, timber company Glatfelter will sell about 25,000 acres of its Maryland forestland to The Conservation Fund for about $38 million. The Conservation Fund, a national non-profit land preservation group, has agreed to acquire the properties from Glatfelter’s subsidiary, the Glatfelter Pulp Wood Company.
The state will buy the development rights to the land for $15.4 million, including $12 million in bond funds and $3.4 million in cash. The Conservation Fund will then sell the majority of the land to the Forestland Group, which will log the land in a sustainable fashion under terms approved by the state.
The remainder of the lands, some of the most ecologically sensitive in Maryland, will be held by The Conservation Fund and transferred to the state when federal grants are approved. The parcel – the second largest piece of land the state has ever purchased for preservation – includes almost 20,000 forested acres and more than 7,600 acres of wetlands.
“The selective sale of our woodlands is part of our business strategy of maximizing the value of all of our assets,” said George Glatfelter II, chair and chief executive officer of Glatfelter. “We are delighted to partner with The Conservation Fund in their efforts to protect this valuable resource while maintaining the economic vitality of the Delmarva region and the local wood products industry.”
Patrick Noonan, chair of The Conservation Fund, said the deal heralds “a sea change for conservation and forestry in America.” “If we are to permanently conserve our nation’s forestlands, we must create innovative public private partnerships that balance economic growth with environmental principles,” Noonan said. “Thanks to the commitment of Glatfelter and the leadership of the state of Maryland, we now have a bold model for forestland conservation in America.”
Under the smaller of the deals approved Wednesday, the state will pay $3.5 million in cash to buy a conservation easement on 2,000 acres of Eastern Shore farmland. The parcel is owned by Charles “Buddy” Jenkins, a businessperson who has helped raise money for a number of Democratic candidates.
Maryland comptroller William Donald Schaefer, one of the Democrats whose campaign Jenkins supported, raised heated objections to both deals on Wednesday, charging Glendening with spending money the state does not have.
“You’ll run around the country, saying what a great environmentalist you are,” Schaefer told Glendening. “You’ll never mention that you are the most fiscally irresponsible governor I’ve ever known.” Schaefer ultimately voted in favor of both deals.
Provided by theEnvironmental News Service.
