Conservation Leaders Named Champions of the Chesapeake Chesapeake Conservancy Honors Robert G. Stanton, Ann Jones and Lysle Sherwin Annapolis, MD – Chesapeake Conservancy today announced the 2025 Champions of the Chesapeake: former National Park Service Director Robert G. “Bob” Stanton, Maryland conservation advocate Ann Holmes Jones and watershed stewardship leader Lysle S. Sherwin. The organization’s most prestigious award, Champions of the Chesapeake, honors individuals wh

Maryland is a national leader in land preservation, largely due to the programs funded by the Transfer Tax is a 1⁄2 % tax on virtually all real estate transactions. The suite of programs funded by the transfer tax not only enhance the quality of life for Maryland residents but are also a significant economic engine. The programs funded are: Collectively these programs are major economic drivers for the state:  Economic Impacts of Natural Resources- Related Activities in Mary

1. JANUARY 2021 POLL OF MARYLAND VOTERS (1) showed that Program Open Space has a 90% approval rating and more than 3 in 5 voters are opposed to using the dedicated funds for a purpose other than Program Open Space. 2. CRITICAL MAINTENANCE NOW - Local and state parks were overwhelmed and highly damaged due to COVID-19. An estimated $41M is needed for immediate critical maintenance. 3. PREVIOUS DEFERMENTS (2) have led to a backlog of needed local and state park projects. Acc

The bipartisan research team of Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (D) and New Bridge Strategy (R) recently partnered to complete a statewide survey of Maryland voters to assess their attitudes towards the state’s land and water conservation program, Program Open Space. The results show that Maryland voters overwhelmingly support Program Open Space, and strongly oppose proposals to divert its funds to unrelated programs (1). A majority opposes such diversions initi