Thank you for attending the 2024 Maryland Land Conservation Conference!

This conference marks 31 years of convening Maryland conservation leaders and attracted nearly 200 daily attendees, two dozen sponsors and nearly 50 speakers. Forever Maryland was proud to bring together land trusts, nonprofits, government leaders, community leaders, farmers, academics, scientists and more for a comprehensive discussion about the present and future challenges facing conservation in Maryland and the Mid Atlantic.

Please click on the presenter name below to access their presentation. Please Note: not all presentations are available.

Also, want to see photos from the conference? CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW SOME CONFERENCE PHOTOS (courtesy of W. Foster). More are posted below and some will be uploaded in the next week, so please be sure to check out our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more conference photos!

2024 Conference Program (Click to View)

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
*Note: Not all presentations are available. Click the speaker or session name to access and download the presentation

DAY 1 - September 4th

• Welcoming Discussion - Engaging More People of Color Around Nature and Outdoor Recreation - Dudley Edmondson, Filmmaker, Wildlife Photographer, and Author

• Podcast Panel: ‘I Hate Politics Podcast’ Talks Renewable Energy and Land Use Policy:

  Date Centers, Solar Siting, Energy Infrastructure & More!

  • Dr. Sunil Dasgupta, UMBC Professor and Host of the I Hate Politics Podcast

  • Steve Kline, President, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy

  • Kristen Harbeson, Political Director, Maryland League of Conservation Voters

  • Sami Ayyorgun, PhD EE, Shore Community Energy

  • Paul Pinsky, Director, Maryland Energy Administration

• Lightning Panel: How Is Maryland Supporting Better Trails, Public Access, and Connectivity?

  • Owen Bailey, Director of Land Use and Policy, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy

  • Autumn Phillips-Lewis, Land Manager, American Chestnut Land Trust

  • Patti Stevens, Chair, Worcester County Bike and Pedestrian Coalition

• SESSION 1 - The Power of Planning & Placemaking

  • Smart Growth, Sustainable Growth, and Placemaking: What is it and Why Should I Care?

    Sarah Abel, SEED, RSP1, Community Design & Placemaking Expert

  • Why You Should Be More Engaged with County Comprehensive Planning: What It Is and Why it Matters -
    Denis Superczynski, Planning Manager, Liveable Frederick Planning & Design

• SESSION 2 - Strengthening Communications

  • News Through the Noise: Communicating Through Paywalls, Algorithms, and a Tuned-out Public -

    • Brandon Wright, Founder/CEO, Oak Grove Strategies

    • Paula Jasinski, President, Green Fin Studio

    • Steve Crane, Editor-in-Chief, Maryland Matters

    • Erin Valentine, Development and Communications Officer, Scenic Rivers Land Trust

• SESSION 3 - Land Trust Essentials

  • The Power of Mapping: Sharing What Maps Can Accomplish and Communicate -

    • Whitney Vong, Program Officer, Chesapeake Bay Trust

    • Lianna Gomori-Ruben, Senior Program Officer, Chesapeake Bay Trust

    • Marie Panday, Nature-based Solutions Specialist, MDE

• SESSION 4 - Trails, Connectivity, and Public Access

  • Charles Branch Conservation Park- A Big Environmental Gain for the Patuxent River

    • Dominic Quattrocchi, Environmental Planner, Arborist, Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission

    • Kristen Maneval, Senior Counsel, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

    • Paul Sun, Landscape Architect

• Closing Panel: Heritage Areas in Action: Stimulating Economic Activity Through

  Natural, Historic, Cultural, and Recreational Resources

  • Improving Visitor Experience for Visitors with Disabilities - Carol A. Benson, Ph.D., Executive Director, Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area

  • Our Why – Becoming a National Heritage Area - Lucille Walker, Executive Director, Southern Maryland National Heritage Area

  • Certified Interpretive Guides/Storytelling/African American Heritage Project - Lisa Challenger, Executive Director, Beach to Bay Heritage Area

  • Conservation Connection: LSHG’s Trail Leadership - Brigitte Carty, Executive Director, Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway

DAY 2 - September 5th

• Q&A Panel - Listen and Learn From Lobbyists: What You Should and Should Not Do To Be An Effective State-Level Advocate For Conservation of Land & Natural Resources

  • Dominic Butchko, Director of Intergovernmental Relations, Maryland Association of Counties

  • Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, Principal, R&R Solutions

  • Eric Gally, President, Gally Public Affairs, Inc.

  • Dru Schmidt-Perkins, Principal, DSP Policy Advocates

• SESSION 1 - Land Trust Essentials

  • Conservation Fundamentals for Land Trust Staff and Board

    • Andrew Szwak, Mid-Atlantic Program Manager, Land Trust Alliance

    • Don Owen, Lands Trails and Parks LLC

• SESSION 2 - Communications & Funding Tools

  • Gaining Ground: The National Campaign for Conservation -

    • Laura Fagen, Associate Director of Digital Communications and Marketing, Land Trust Alliance

    • Elizabeth Ward, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, Land Trust Alliance

  • Federal Funding for Land Protection & the Tools to Find It

    • Mary Pfaffko, Director, Private Lands Program, Defenders of Wildlife

    • Ben Alexandro, Program Director, Chesapeake Conservation Partnership

• SESSION 3 - Renewable Energy & Land Use

  • Renewable Energy and the Impacts on Rural Maryland Lands

    • Paul Goeringer, Sr. Faculty Specialist, University of Maryland

    • Elizabeth Thilmany, Faculty Specialist, University of Maryland

• SESSION 4 - Greenspace, Connectivity, and Public Access 

  • Moderator: Mariah Davis, Environmental Justice Officer, Maryland DNR

    PART I: Case Study on How a Bill Becomes Law- Creating the Maryland Greenspace Equity Law

    • Reed Perry, Director of Federal Relations, Trust for Public Land

    • John Griffin, Senior Policy Advisor, Chesapeake Conservancy

    • Katherine Lautar, Executive Director, Baltimore Green Space

    PART II: Understanding the Maryland Greenspace Equity Program and How Your Community Can Benefit

    • Margaret Lashar, Local Grants Supervisor, Land Acquisition and Planning, Maryland DNR

• Closing Panel - What You Need To Know: Conservation Easements And Federal Tax Law

  • Nancy A. McLaughlin, Robert W. Swenson Professor of Law, University of Utah College of Law

  • Karin Gross, Special Counsel, IRS Office of Chief Counsel (Washington, D.C.)

    —-> EASEMENTS & FEDERAL TAX LAW CLOSING SESSION HANDOUTS

Thank You to our sponsors for making the
31st Annual Maryland Land Conservation Conference possible!

Forever Maryland is dedicated to the conservation of our state’s land, water, wildlife, and other natural values – values that can be experienced and cherished by everyone and will sustain healthy, vibrant, and economically resilient communities. Racism, injustice, and exclusion must never be found in or advantaged by our work. The principles of equality, justice, and inclusion should guide us all and will be honored by Forever Maryland.