Ch. 586                                         1993 LAWS OF MARYLAND

Article - Natural Resources

5-102.1.

(A)     (1) IN THIS SECTION, THE TERM "PRACTICE OF FORESTRY" INCLUDES
THE SAME ACTIVITIES REFERRED TO IN PRESCRIBED BY A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL
FORESTER IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 7-101(E) OF THE BUSINESS OCCUPATIONS AND
PROFESSIONS ARTICLE.

(2) "PRACTICE OF FORESTRY" DOES NOT INCLUDE THE CLEARING OF
LAND AS A PRELUDE TO A CHANGE IN THE USE OF LAND.

(B)     THE PRACTICE OF FORESTRY, WHEN PRACTICED AS PRESCRIBED. BY A
PERSON LICENSED AS A FORESTER UNDER TITLE 7 OF THE BUSINESS OCCUPATIONS
AND PROFESSIONS ARTICLE AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH ACCEPTED SILVICULTURAL
PRINCIPLES, AS DEFINED BY THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS, CONSTITUTES A
TRADITIONAL, FUNDAMENTAL, BENEFICIAL, AND DESIRABLE USE OF THE STATE'S
FOREST RESOURCE. THE LICENSED PRACTICE OF FORESTRY IS AN IMPORTANT
LAND MANAGEMENT TOOL THAT CONTRIBUTES SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE ECONOMY
OF THE STATE BY THE SUPPORT OF A VITAL FOREST PRODUCTS INDUSTRY, AS WELL
AS TO THE HEALTH OF FOREST AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES FORESTS AND THEIR
WILDLIFE, WATER QUALITY, AND RECREATIONAL BENEFITS BY THE SUSTAINMENT OF
FOREST PRODUCTIVITY AND WILDLIFE HABITATS.

(B) (C) IN MARYLAND, THE LICENSED PRACTICE OF FORESTRY ACTIVITIES,
INCLUDING THE HARVEST AND TRANSPORT OF FOREST PRODUCTS, ARE IS OFTEN
CARRIED OUT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO POPULATED AREAS. OTHER THAN
DEVELOPMENT FOR MORE INTENSIVE USES, THIS HARVEST OF TIMBER MAY
REPRESENT THE ONLY A MAJOR SOURCE OF INCOME THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR THE
PROFITABLE USE OF PRIVATE PROPERTY.

(C) (D) SINCE IT IS IN THE STATE AND PUBLIC INTERESTS TO PRESERVE
FOREST THE FOREST LAND BASE AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES, A LOCAL
GOVERNMENT WITH PLANNING AND ZONING POWERS SHALL SUPPORT THE
LICENSED PRACTICE OF FORESTRY BY A REASONABLE EXERCISE OF THESE
POWERS, INCLUDING THE CONSIDERATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND INTERPRETATION
OF PLANNING AND ZONING REQUIREMENTS THAT BENEFICIALLY IMPACT THE
EFFICIENT AND ECONOMIC PRACTICE OF FORESTRY IN A MANNER CONSISTENT
WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S IMPLEMENTATION OF THE VISION'S LISTED IN
ARTICLE 66B, § 3.06(B) OF THE CODE.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 1993.

Approved May 27, 1993.

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