Riparian Buffer Systems

In the News and Notes roundup for this issue: Maryland's state forests are recognized as sustainable; a new program aims to help Virginians plant riparian buffers; a new theory hopes to explain "seed masting;" new research suggests wooden surfaces may have antivirial properties; and Maryland's Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund allocates $35 million for state ecological projects.

Forest buffers are critical to the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its wildlife. But while forest buffer planting may be gaining momentum, the Chesapeake Bay watershed has lost more forest buffers than it’s gained.

The riparian area serves as a transition between aquatic and upland habitats—it is the link between land and water. This fact sheet list the benefits of riparian buffers.

This fact sheet provides an introduction to the basics of a riparian buffer.

This publication discusses how to design, plant, and maintain a riparian forest buffer—an important part of the riparian ecosystem.

This fact sheet contains a list of native trees for planting in riparian buffers. This list indicates the region within Maryland, wildlife value, and growing conditions.

This fact sheet provides a list of native understory trees and shrubs for planting in a riparian buffer. This list indicates the region within Maryland, wildlife value, and growing conditions.

This fact sheet focuses on establishing and maintaining grass buffers that will mainly benefit wildlife species.

This fact sheet addresses soil bioengineering techniques to primarily increase the resistance of the streambank through binding the soil with root systems and growing a vegetative cover.

A glossary of forestry terms.