Save Our Forests in Maryland

Maryland is losing forests to development daily, but forests serve an important role in our ecosystem, and we cannot afford to lose them.

Forests have more value than just how their proximity increases property values. They're not just nice to look at; we cannot afford to chop down and fragment our remaining forests in an endless pursuit of new development. When we remove forests for houses and pavement, we create more problems with flooding, pollution, and climate change.

Just a few highlights:

• Forests filter pollutants, capturing both runoff nutrients (like nitrogen and phosphorus) and toxins (like pesticides) before they reach our streams and rivers.
• Forests act like a big sponge, soaking up floodwaters and slowing the flow of water into streams, rivers, and our stormwater infrastructure. This is good - it reduces peak flows and reduces erosion.
• Forests clean our air - they filter out air pollution and eat up carbon, making our air healthier and playing an important role in mitigating climate change.
• Forests provide homes for numerous species - especially intact and contiguous forests! Plus, they provide important recreational opportunities for people.
• Forests cool air temperatures and can actually minimize severe weather events like droughts and heat waves.

We need the Forest Conservation Act to do better at protecting our forests!