In developing and updating its Critical Area program, a local jurisdiction shall follow all of these policies in regard to forest and developed woodland protection:

1. A. Maintain and increase the forest and developed woodland vegetation of the Critical Area;
2. B. Conserve forests and developed woodlands and provide for expansion of forested areas;
3. C. Provide that the removal of trees associated with development activities is minimized and, where appropriate, mitigated; and
4. D. Recognize that forests are a protective land use to be managed so that maximum values for water quality, wildlife, timber, recreation, and other resources are maintained, recognizing that, in some cases, these uses may be mutually exclusive.

Authority: Natural Resources Article, §§8-1806 and 8-1808(d), Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: May 13, 1986 (12:24 Md. R. 2352)

COMAR 14.15 became effective upon the enactment of Resolution No. 37 (SJ 9), Acts of 1986.

COMAR 14.15.05 recodified to COMAR 27.01.05 in August, 1992

Chapter revised effective March 8, 2010 (37:5 Md. R 428)

Regulation .01 amended effective November 1, 2010 (37:22 Md. R. 1555); January 20, 2025 (52:1 Md. R. 19)

Regulation .02 amended effective January 20, 2025 (52:1 Md. R. 19)