<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gnr" article_name="Natural Resources" number="5-1609" title_number="5" title_name="Forests and Parks" subtitle_number="16" subtitle_name="Forest Conservation">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>By December 31, 1991, the Department, after consulting with local government and the real estate development, building, and environmental communities, shall adopt regulations, including the development of guidance manuals to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Implement this subtitle and set requirements and standards which establish:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Standards of performance required in forest stand delineations and forest conservation plans including the submittal process;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Criteria for local forest conservation programs; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>Implementation processes for the Department’s administration in the absence of a local forest conservation program;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Assist and guide local authorities in the development of their local forest conservation program by providing:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Training of local officials; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>A model local government ordinance that meets the requirements of this subtitle; and</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Assist developers, planners, surveyors, engineers, foresters, biologists, and landscape architects in:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Developing methodology and gathering natural resource information required in the preparation of a forest stand delineation and a forest conservation plan;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Determining the size, location, and orientation of forest areas to be retained;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>Determining the size, location, and orientation of areas to be afforested or reforested;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>Implementing protection techniques and devices used in preserving specimen trees or areas designated for retention during construction; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="5">
          <text>Determining species, spacing, and timing of afforestation or reforestation.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>All provisions of the guidance manual that are not specifically noted as standards or minimum requirements shall be deemed recommendations by the Department for the development of the local program.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>By December 31, 1992, the Department shall prepare and provide to local authorities a statewide forest resource inventory that shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Be updated every 5 years or as deemed appropriate by the Department; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Include a list of potential sites for reforestation or afforestation of both publicly and privately owned land on a county by county basis.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
