§ 5-429. Establishment; goals and purposes

   (a) Establishment. -- The Department shall establish a Green Shores Program to promote and cause the planting and maintenance of forested buffers around the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

(b) Goals and purposes. -- The Green Shores Program may include:

   (1) Providing grants in the form of trees, money, materials, or expertise to local governments, nonprofit corporations, and State agencies to be used for planting or enhancing forested buffers around the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries;

   (2) Educating the public about the benefits of trees and forested buffers, including:

      (i) Establishing demonstration forest buffers on public lands;

      (ii) Providing educational and promotional materials to schools;

      (iii) Providing grants to schools for their own educational programs;

      (iv) Developing and disseminating educational and promotional materials to the public; and

      (v) Coordinating volunteer efforts; and

   (3) Promoting forested buffers on private land by providing:

      (i) Technical assistance, such as preparing site plans and coordinating planting arrangements; and

      (ii) Economic incentives, including cost-sharing programs.

HISTORY: 1989, ch. 451; 2003, ch. 180.