Land Preservation

Agricultural Land Preservation in Talbot County

Talbot County is one of the most scenic rural counties in Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic Region. Vast expanses of open space, valuable natural resources, wildlife habitat and the living waters of the Chesapeake Bay define the rural character of the County. Agricultural land is at the heart of the County’s beauty, history and culture.

Preservation of Agricultural Land helps to ensure that the rural character enjoyed by so many will be available for future generations. In addition, farmland preservation will help to ensure the viability of the agricultural industry that substantially contributes to the regional economy.

Conservation easements perpetually protect land from residential or commercial development, while existing operations are encouraged to continue.

Existing Rural and Agricultural Land Preservation Programs

As of December, 2002 more than 24,000 acres of land have been placed in a variety of easement programs.

The Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation ( MALPF), in existence since 1977, is one of the most successful programs of its kind in the United States. Its primary purpose is to preserve sufficient agricultural land to maintain a viable local base in food and fiber production for the present and future citizens of Maryland. The program is administered by the County and State in an equitable partnership.

Enrolling in the program enables a land owner to voluntarily sell his development rights to the State, removing in perpetuity to develop the farm for residential, commercial or industrial use. As of December, 2002, Development rights easements have been purchased on forty-nine (49) properties, permanently protecting 8,100 acres of farmland.

Land trust organizations do not typically purchase development rights from a property owner, but rather accept conservation easements as donations that enable property owners to receive significant tax benefits. The primary land trust organizations holding easements in Talbot county are Maryland Environmental Trust (MET) and the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC). As of December, 2002 approximately 14,804 acres of land within the County have entered into conservation agreements with various land trust organizations.

Other property owners have entered into conservation easement agreements with a local, regional, state or national non-profit land trust organizations including the Maryland Ornithological Society, The Audubon Foundation and The Nature Conservancy.