Adoption Statement on Riparian Forest Buffers

Description

Adoption Statement on Riparian Forest Buffers highlights the role that conservation, restoration and stewardship of riparian areas, and in particular riparian forests, play in reaching our long-term goals for Chesapeake Bay restoration. To support an integrated and comprehensive approach to riparian conservation, this statement adopts a new definition for riparian forest buffer, five policy recommendations from a Riparian Forest Buffer Panel and three conservation goals for state and federal agencies. It also directs states and the federal government to establish a riparian buffer implementation plan with conservation and restoration benchmarks.