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Visit the Live Green Howard website
Live Green Howard is Howard County’s depot for all things green!
Explore the different tracks of information available and help us make Howard County greener, healthier and a true sustainable community.
Susan Overstreet | 410-313-4345
Green Infrastructure Network Plan | Green Infrastructure Network | Interactive Map
Green Infrastructure is a network of interconnected waterways, wetlands, forest, meadows, and other natural areas. This infrastructure helps support native plant and animal species, maintain natural ecological processes, sustain air and water resources, and contribute to the health and quality of life for communities.
The Department is moving forward with implementation priorities defined in the Green Infrastructure Network Plan, including developing habitat management plans for the hubs and corridors. The habitat management plans include information on existing conditions and recommendations for landowners who would like to maintain or improve the habitat on their property.
HMP for Dorsey Wetland Hub
HMP for Guilford Branch Forest Hub
Wetland and Pond Enhancement document
Video - What is Howard County's Forest Conservation Program? This video provides an overview of Howard County’s Forest Conservation Program. The purpose and goal of the program is to protect and preserve forest in Howard County by promoting environmentally sensitive design during the subdivision and land development process. The video stresses the importance of educating the community residents about the forest program to ensure the long term protection, preservation and maintenance of our forest resources in the County.
Video - How Can You Help Protect Our Forest Resources? The primary purpose of this video is to help educate the public about the need to avoid certain activities that may destroy or degrade protected forest resources located in their community. Some of the permitted and non-permitted uses within forest conservation easements are highlighted in this video. The video asks for the community’s help in our mission as the guardians of the public’s trust in protecting the County’s valuable forest resources for future generations.
Educational Guides for Forest Conservation Areas Located: On Private Lots | Within Public Easements, HOA or County owned Open Space or Preservation Parcels
Maryland Forest Service The Forest Service restores, manages, and protects Maryland’s trees, forests, and forested ecosystems to sustain our natural resources and connect people to the land. For more information on forestry education and facts, please visit the Maryland Forest Service Home Page.
Regulations | Manual The Howard County Forest Conservation Regulations are pursuant to the requirements of the Maryland Forest Conservation Act of 1991, which requires units of local government to adopt a local Forest Conservation Program that meets the requirements of the Natural Resources Article, Section 5-1601 through 5-1613 of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
The Howard County Forest Conservation Manual implements the Howard County Forest Conservation Act.
For more information on the State of Maryland Forest Conservation Act, please see the Department of Natural Resources Forest Conservation Act Web Page.
The Natural Resources Division of the Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks performs all inspections and enforcement of post-development forest conservation easements in Howard County. Inspections are conducted to verify forest conservation easements are in compliance with project-specific requirements during the development phase and enforce restrictions on certain types of activities and land use within easements after development is complete. For further information, please visit the Department of Recreation and Parks Enforcement Web Page.
The Howard County General Mitigation Plan identifies appropriate and potentially available areas for forest conservation mitigation projects.
The Forest Conservation Accounting Procedures detail how in-lieu fees are tracked and spent by the County.
Green Neighborhoods is a voluntary program that uses housing allocations as an incentive to encourage development that conserves and protects natural resources, while providing sustainable communities that are energy and water efficient. The Green Neighborhoods Program consists of a Sites and a Homes component.
For more information on the Howard County Forest Conservation Program, please contact the Department of Planning and Zoning, Division of Land Development Planner-of-the-Day at (410) 313-2350.
The following are supplementary documents referenced in the Green Neighborhood Guidance Document for Sites:
Green Neighborhood Checklist Green Neighborhood Site Compliance Checklist Project Description Form Habitat Management Agreement Native Plant List Invasive Exotic Plant List Template A-4 a-d: Innovative Design Template G-1: Light Pollution Reduction Template H-1: Environmentally Preferable Site Products Template H-2: Reduce Heat-Island Effect of Paving Template H-4: Regionally Provided Materials
There is also a Green Neighborhood Guidance Document for Homes, which is managed by the Department of Inspection, Licenses and Permits:
Green Neighborhood Guidance Document for Homes
For further information, please visit the Green Neighborhoods Web Page of the Department of Inspection, Licenses and Permits.
