The Maryland Environmental Trust (MET) is one of the oldest and most successful land trusts in the Country. Established by statute in 1967, MET is a unit of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, but governed by a private Board of
Trustees. This unique arrangement allows MET the resources and flexibility necessary to be a highly successful and trusted land conservation partner. MET primarily solicits and accepts voluntary conservation easements donated by private property owners in Maryland. MET is considered one of the oldest and most successful land trusts in the country!
MET holds over 1,040 conservation easements preserving over 128,148 acres ranging from the Chesapeake Bay to the mountains of Garrett County.
The Mission
Maryland Environmental Trust’s mission is to provide landowners with information and tools to permanently protect natural, historic and scenic resources in the state. MET works with landowners and local land trusts to protect Maryland’s most treasured landscapes and natural resources as a legacy for future generations. MET also serves to promote and support local land trusts through its Land Trust Assistance Program and provides grants to environmental education projects through the Keep Maryland Beautiful Program.
The Maryland Environmental Trust’s focus on donated easements makes this program one of the most cost-effective land preservation program available in the state, since donated easements cost a fraction of the cost of purchased easement programs.
Because donated easements make up a large portion of the state’s protected land, continued funding of MET is essential to meet the state’s land preservation goals.
Learn more from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Over 400,000 acres of land protected! 