Washington County Preserves 246.67 Acres of Farmland, Expanding Agricultural Land Conservation – Washington County, MD

Report on Agricultural Land Preservation in Washington County and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

This report details the permanent preservation of two agricultural properties in Washington County, Maryland, finalized in May and June 2025. The initiative, a collaboration between Washington County and the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF), advances several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by safeguarding productive agricultural land from development.

• Total Area Preserved: 246.67 acres
• Property 1: 130-acre crop and hay farm in Williamsport, preserved on May 1, 2025.
• Property 2: 116.67-acre crop and livestock farm in Hagerstown, preserved on June 30, 2025.
• Key Mechanism: Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Program (MALPP).
• Strategic Importance: Both farms are located within existing blocks of conserved land, enhancing the integrity and resilience of the County’s agricultural landscape.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The preservation of these farms directly supports Washington County’s commitment to global sustainability targets. The project’s outcomes are aligned with the following SDGs:

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • The preservation of a 130-acre crop and hay operation and a 116.67-acre crop and livestock farm ensures that this productive land remains dedicated to agricultural use.
   • By protecting farmland in perpetuity, the County secures its capacity for local food production, promoting food security and sustainable agricultural practices.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • This initiative helps manage urban sprawl by creating permanent greenbelts and preventing the conversion of rural land to residential or commercial use.
   • It actively preserves the region’s agricultural heritage and rural character, contributing to the cultural and environmental well-being of the community.
3. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • The easements contribute to the formation of larger, contiguous blocks of conserved land, which are critical for protecting terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity.
   • By preventing development, the program halts land degradation and preserves open spaces that provide essential ecosystem services.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The project exemplifies a successful partnership between a local government (Washington County Department of Planning & Zoning) and a state-level entity (Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation).
   • This multi-level collaboration is fundamental to achieving large-scale conservation and sustainability objectives.

Programmatic Framework and Implementation

Washington County employs a multi-faceted strategy for land preservation, with the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Program (MALPP) serving as its most impactful tool. This program has successfully protected over 17,000 acres, accounting for approximately 39% of the County’s total conserved land.

The comprehensive land preservation strategy also integrates several other state, local, and federal programs, including:

• Maryland Department of Natural Resources Rural Legacy Program
• Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
• Project Open Space
• The County’s Installment Purchase Program (IPP)
• Local Forest Conservation Easements
• Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP)
• Federal Scenic Easements

These programs collectively demonstrate a robust commitment to achieving long-term environmental and agricultural sustainability in line with the SDGs.

1. SDGs Addressed in the Article

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• The article focuses on the “permanent preservation” of farms, including a “130-acre crop and hay operation” and a “116.67-acre crop and livestock farm.” By protecting “productive farmland from development,” the initiative directly supports the capacity for food production, which is fundamental to achieving Zero Hunger.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The preservation efforts are managed by “The Washington County Department of Planning & Zoning” as part of a broader land preservation strategy. This aligns with sustainable urban and rural planning. The article explicitly states the goal is to protect “agricultural heritage, open spaces, and rural character,” which contributes to safeguarding the cultural and natural heritage of communities.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• The article discusses the preservation of “246.67 acres” which are “situated within existing blocks of conserved land.” This action contributes to the conservation of terrestrial ecosystems. The mention of programs like the “Maryland Department of Natural Resources Rural Legacy Program” and “local forest conservation easements” further highlights the commitment to protecting land and biodiversity from the pressures of development.

2. Specific Targets Identified

Under SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• Target 2.4: “By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices…” The article’s focus on preserving “productive farmland” through the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Program (MALPP) is a direct action to ensure that land remains available for agriculture, thereby supporting sustainable food production systems for the future.

Under SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.4: “Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.” The article clearly states that Washington County’s programs reflect a “continued commitment to protecting its agricultural heritage, open spaces, and rural character,” which are key components of a region’s cultural and natural heritage.
• Target 11.a: “Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning.” The actions described are part of a county-level planning and zoning strategy, implemented through various local, state, and federal programs to manage land use and preserve rural areas adjacent to developed or developing zones.

Under SDG 15: Life on Land

• Target 15.3: “By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil… and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.” By placing permanent easements on farmland, the county is preventing land degradation that would occur from development, thus keeping the land productive and healthy.
• Target 15.9: “By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes…” The article details a comprehensive “broader land preservation strategy” involving multiple programs managed by the “Washington County Department of Planning & Zoning.” This is a clear example of integrating conservation and ecosystem values into local government planning and development processes.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied

• Area of agricultural land under productive and sustainable agriculture: The article provides precise figures that can serve as indicators. It mentions the preservation of “two farms totaling 246.67 acres” and notes that the MALPP program alone has protected “over 17,000 acres.” This quantifies the area of land being kept for agricultural use.
• Measures for the protection of cultural and natural heritage: The existence and implementation of the various preservation programs mentioned—”Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Program (MALPP),” “Rural Legacy Program,” “Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP),” “Project Open Space,” “Installment Purchase Program (IPP),” and “Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP)”—serve as an indicator of the policies and financial commitments made to protect the county’s heritage. The article also notes the finalization of the “eighth and ninth easements… in the Fiscal Year 2024 cycle,” which is a quantifiable measure of progress.
• Integration of ecosystem values into local planning: The management of these programs by the “Washington County Department of Planning & Zoning” and the annual application cycle (“Farm owners may apply annually by July 1”) are implicit indicators that conservation is an integrated and ongoing part of the county’s formal planning process.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: washco-md.net