The Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) collaborated with all 23 counties and Baltimore City to standardize and
aggregate local protected land data into a unified GIS format.
This statewide dataset provides an accessible resource for analysis and tracking progress toward preservation goals, updating a portion of the protected land GIS datasets available through iMap.
Additionally, the update incorporated data from previous submissions, including the Rural Legacy Program and the 2022 Land Preservation, Parks, and Recreation (LPPRP) Plans. MDP asked counties to review the aggregated data to ensure its completeness and accuracy. The updates included the following:
- Local Protected Lands – Protected Open Spaces (LPLPOS)
- Local Protected Lands – Fee Simple (LPLFS)
Transfer Development Rights and Purchase Development Rights
- Transfer Development Rights (TDR)
- Purchase Development Rights (PDR)
Conclusively, the Local Protected Land data MDP collected and aggregates are used in many applications, including:
- Maryland’s Protected Lands Dashboard;
- Maryland’s Environmental Resource and Land Information Network – MERLIN Online;
- Chesapeake Bay Program protected land conservation progress;
- Maryland the Beautiful Act of 2023 which established goals of conserving 30% of the land in the state by 2030 and 40% by 2040;
- The annual review of Rural Legacy Program applications;
- Identifying the potential land use impacts of a proposed transportation or other major infrastructure project to fulfill National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements.
Please visit their Statewide Local Protected Lands Update ArcGIS StoryMap and web application for more information!
