The Maryland Forest Service and the Maryland Park Service both trace their origins to 1906; the year a gift of 1,917 acres spurred the creation of Garrett State Forest and consequently established the State Board of Forestry.
That was the beginning of 120 years of public land management in Maryland. Since then, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and its precursor agencies have overseen a growing and complex system of public land in the state.
A lot has changed in those years of stewardship and management. At the start of the 1900s, much of Maryland was deforested. Maryland’s first state forester, Fred Besley, surveyed the state’s forests and worked to bring residents to enjoy the outdoor areas around them.
State investment and New Deal programs of the 1930s helped the parks expand. Maryland’s parks play an important role in Civil Rights history, as the desegregation of Sandy Point State Park paved the way toward ending segregation in public parks and beaches across the nation.
Though it took decades, the forests and state parks evolved from humble beginnings to the majestic and wonderful spaces Marylanders appreciate today.
Maryland DNR works to keep our forests and public lands protected and accessible to the public for generations to come.
Watch the video on 120 Years of Forestry.