3458

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 847

acquire land in Garrett County; authorizing the Department
to use funds to exchange land in Garrett County under
certain conditions; and generally relating to the Heritage
Conservation Fund.

BY adding to

Article - Natural Resources

Section 5-1501 through 5-1566 5-1507, inclusive, to be under

the new subtitle "Subtitle 15. Heritage Conservation

Fund"
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1983 Replacement Volume and 1985 Supplement)

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article - Tax - Property

Section 13-209

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1986 Volume)

Preamble

Population growth and dispersal and related residential
commercial and industrial development continue to claim thousands
of acres of forest and farmland as well as nontidal wetlands and
other unique ecological areas of Maryland. From 1973 to 1981,
37,000 acres of forestland, 43,000 acres of farmland, and 14,000
acres of nontidal wetlands have been lost in Maryland. The
General Assembly of Maryland finds that the protection of these
land resources is essential to the efforts to restore the
Chesapeake Bay and to assure that our natural heritage will be
protected for future generations.

The General Assembly further finds that the protection of
Maryland's forest resources is essential to the restoration of
the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries and the protection of
water quality throughout Maryland. One of this Act's priorities
shall be the protection of these forest resources.

The General Assembly finds that the establishment of a
Heritage Conservation Fund is necessary to protect the natural
heritage of Maryland; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Natural Resources

SUBTITLE 15. HERITAGE CONSERVATION FUND

5-1501.