Maryland To Discuss Health Of The Chesapeake At First-Ever State of the Coast Conference On Eastern Shore

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science will bring together more than 200 local officials, business and industry leaders, resource stakeholders and users, scientists, and federal and state agency experts for Maryland’s first State of the Coast conference, set for May 21-23 at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay in Cambridge.

“As we all know, the health of our coasts, which span 3,190 miles, is intractably linked to the health of our economy, environment and society,” said Mark Belton, secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

“Our coastal communities are challenged like never before, confronted with the new realities of climate change, nuisance flooding, saltwater intrusion, sea level rise and severe storms. Now is the time for Maryland to lead, both in words and in actions, so our businesses, communities and residents are prepared and well-positioned for a more resilient, secure and sustainable future. This inaugural conference will be a catalyst for change.”

Maryland’s State of the Coast will consist of two and a half days of presentations by leading experts in concurrent sessions, keynote presentations and workshops. Topics will explore the wide variety of resource management issues and opportunities facing state and local decision makers and how to ensure resources — and the communities that rely on them — are resilient now and into the future.

Discussions will focus on the state’s oyster restoration efforts in the Chesapeake Bay, stream restoration partnerships and projects, empowering climate-resilient communities through ecosystem enhancements, and working with waterfront communities, industries and others. The state will also announce the creation of the Climate Leadership Academy, which seeks to develop, prepare and train local officials on climate-related challenges, opportunities and risks.

“To successfully respond to these challenges, it takes a community — government, landowners and business — to pull together toward a common vision for the future,” said Dr. Peter Goodwin, president of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. “This common vision should be informed by the best available scientific knowledge from our agencies, universities and the private sector.”

Conference speakers will include executives and principals from the Nature Conservancy, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Oyster Recovery Partnership and Association of Climate Change Officers, among private and public sector leaders and officials. Governor Larry Hogan will welcome the conference attendees by video.

Registration is limited but still available at www.mdstateofthecoast.org. Anyone with questions about the State of the Coast conference should contact Chesapeake and Coastal Service director Matthew Fleming at 410-260-8719.