(a) It is the intent of the Maryland General Assembly to preserve agricultural land and woodland in order to:
(1) Provide sources of agricultural products within the State for the citizens of the State;
(2) Control the urban expansion which is consuming the agricultural land and woodland of the State;
(3) Curb the spread of urban blight and deterioration; and
(4) Protect agricultural land and woodland as open–space land.
(b) With respect to woodland preservation under this subtitle, the General Assembly encourages that fair consideration be given to the retention of forest lands that are working landscapes as defined under § 5–101 of the Natural Resources Article.
Structure Maryland Statutes
Title 2 - Department of Agriculture
Subtitle 5 - Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation
Section 2-501 - "Child" Defined
Section 2-501.1 - Legislative Intent
Section 2-502 - Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation Established
Section 2-503 - Board of Trustees
Section 2-504 - General Powers of Foundation
Section 2-504.1 - Agricultural Preservation Advisory Boards
Section 2-505 - Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Fund
Section 2-506 - Annual Report to Governor and General Assembly
Section 2-507 - Executive Director and Staff
Section 2-508 - Purchases of Agricultural Land Preservation Easements
Section 2-508.1 - Disbursements to County Agricultural Land Preservation Programs
Section 2-509 - Foundation Regulations and Procedures for Sale of Easements
Section 2-509.1 - Elimination of Districts as a Requirement for Easement Application Process
Section 2-510 - Sale of Easement in Agricultural Land
Section 2-510.1 - Grant to Purchase Easement Under Certain Conditions
Section 2-511 - Value of Easement
Section 2-512 - Approval of Local Programs of Agricultural Land Preservation
Section 2-513 - Use of Land for Which Easement Purchased
Section 2-513.1 - Authority of County to Deny Applications Under Local Land Use Regulations
Section 2-514 - Termination of Easement
Section 2-514.1 - Easement Approved on or After October 1, 2004 to Be Held in Perpetuity
Section 2-515 - Condemnation of Land Under Agricultural Preservation Easement
Section 2-517 - Critical Farms Program
Section 2-517.1 - Farmland Preservation Partnership Program