Maryland Court Safeguards Challenges to Forest Clearing Projects

Maryland development projects that call for deforestation can be legally challenged after they’re approved, the state’s Court of Appeals judges wrote in a majority opinion.

The court sided with the plaintiffs, led by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, who challenged a forest conservation plan led by defendants—CREG Westport I LLC, and Harford Investors LLP—and approved by Maryland’s Harford County. Developers are responsible for outlining those plans to clear forests for construction under Maryland’s Forest Conservation Act.

The opinion, released Friday, clarified that the act enables citizens, nonprofits, and community groups to challenge construction projects even if a county or city ...