Maryland Department of Natural Resources

What Maryland Department of Natural Resources does

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is one of 18 principal executive departments of the State of Maryland, headquartered at 580 Taylor Avenue in Annapolis within the Tawes State Office Building. Established in 1969 with operational roots extending to the mid-19th century, the agency employs 1,001–5,000 staff and is led by Secretary Josh Kurtz, who reports directly to Governor Wes Moore, with David Goshorn, PhD serving as Deputy Secretary. DNR delivers its mission through ten internal divisions: Maryland Park Service, Fishing and Boating Services, Maryland Forest Service, Wildlife and Heritage Service, Land Acquisition and Planning, Climate Resilience, Our Waters (Watershed and Climate Services), Maryland Natural Resources Police, the Environmental Justice Office, and the Conservation History Committee. The agency serves seven primary customer segments — Maryland residents, visitors and tourists, anglers and fishermen, hunters and trappers, boaters, local governments, and educators and students — through recreational licensing, public land access, environmental education, conservation programming, and law enforcement.

DNR's service platform centers on a multi-channel licensing and registration system (the Maryland Outdoors online portal, DNR Service Centers staffed in person, a network of authorized Sports License Agents, and phone sales support), park reservation and camping systems, the Eyes on the Bay water-quality monitoring portal, a free mobile application, and an online store. Its core technology scope covers environmental monitoring, climate resilience planning, ecological restoration management, wildlife and fisheries management, and water quality monitoring. Notable active programs include the 5 Million Trees initiative (1.5 million trees planted toward a 2031 goal), the Schoolyard Forests Program, the Marylanders Grow Oysters oyster restoration program, the Liberty Tree Project, and five completed tributary-scale oyster restoration sanctuaries (2025). Outcome metrics include 188 funded restoration sites statewide, an annual pollution reduction of 45,100 pounds of nitrogen, 6,400 pounds of phosphorus, and 8,900 tons of sediment, 55 acres of restored wetlands, and a 46% increase in blue crab population to 349 million.

As a state government entity, DNR does not generate commercial revenue. The agency is funded through state budget appropriations, federal grants, dedicated trust funds, and license, permit, and pass fees. Disclosed trust fund allocations include $31.5M from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund (2026), $35.8M from the same fund (2024), and $20M from the Waterway Improvement Fund (FY2026). DNR distributes grants to counties and municipalities through Program Open Space, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (awards ranging from $50,000 to $3 million), the Watershed Assistance Grant Program with the Chesapeake Bay Trust, and the Innovative Technology Fund in partnership with the University of Maryland. The agency actively partners with the Maryland State Department of Education, Maryland Department of the Environment, Chesapeake Bay Trust, National Park Service, and county governments to deliver cross-jurisdictional conservation outcomes.

Name

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Legal name

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Website

https://dnr.maryland.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is a state government agency that manages Maryland's public lands, waterways, forests, wildlife, and fisheries, while issuing recreational licenses, operating the state park system, and running conservation and climate resilience programs for residents, visitors, and local governments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

State Government Natural Resource Management

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Conservation Programs (924120), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924)

SIC

Forestry (800), Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH), Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE), Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests) (BPAIAMAF), Public Property & Asset Management (Federal Buildings, Fleet, Land) (BPAIAAAJ), Environmental Protection Agencies & Environmental Health Departments (HLAJAFAA), Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

Keywords

• Natural resource management
• State parks recreation
• Wildlife conservation services
• Fisheries management
• Forest management

Headquarters

HQ city

Annapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is a state government agency that manages Maryland's public lands, waterways, forests, wildlife, and fisheries. It provides fishing, hunting, and boating licenses and registrations; operates the state park system with camping, cabin, and picnic shelter reservations; manages wildlife and game species; runs conservation programs including the 5 Million Trees initiative and Chesapeake Bay restoration; and delivers environmental education and outdoor recreation services to Maryland residents and visitors.

Product overview

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources operates a comprehensive platform of interconnected services managing the state's natural resources, outdoor recreation, and environmental programs. The core offering includes Fishing and Boating Services for aquatic resource management, the Maryland Park Service for state park operations, Forest Service for statewide forestry programs including the 5 Million Trees initiative, Wildlife and Heritage Service for species management, Climate Resilience programs for adaptation, and Our Waters for Chesapeake Bay monitoring. Supporting infrastructure includes the Maryland Outdoors Licensing Portal for licenses and permits, the Grants and Loans Center administering funding programs, the Licensing and Registration Service, and a DNR Mobile App. These services work together to deliver unified management of Maryland's natural resources while providing outdoor recreation opportunities, conservation programs, and environmental education to residents and visitors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Maryland Outdoors: Online licensing portal for fishing, hunting, and outdoor recreation licenses
• Natural Resources Police (NRP)
• Schoolyard Forests Program
• 5 Million Trees Initiative
• Liberty Tree Project
• MD 250
• America In Miniature

Products and services

• Fishing and Boating Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced nitrogen by 45,100 pounds annually from restoration projects
• +5 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• St. Mary's CountyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2026County received approximately $583,000 in state and county funding through FY27 Program Open Space grants for park projects including Snow Hill Park improvements and Nicolet Park splash pad.
• Maryland State Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2026Three-agency collaboration to expand the Schoolyard Forests Program during Earth Week 2026. Students at Northview Elementary in Prince George's County planted 30 native trees as part of Maryland's 5 Million Trees initiative advancing climate, water quality, and education goals.
• Maryland Department of the EnvironmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2026Three-agency collaboration to expand the Schoolyard Forests Program during Earth Week 2026. Students at Northview Elementary in Prince George's County planted 30 native trees as part of Maryland's 5 Million Trees initiative advancing climate, water quality, and education goals.
• Chesapeake Bay TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026Joint administration of the Chesapeake Bay Trust Urban Tree Grant Program funding tree planting in Prince George's County. The program targets environmental justice and climate resilience in historically underserved communities.
• Maryland Liberty Tree ProjectmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2026Multi-organization collaboration to plant descendants of Maryland's original 1775 Liberty Tree in all 23 counties and Baltimore City by end of 2026, commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence.
• Chesapeake Bay TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Watershed Assistance Grant Program providing planning and design grants and technical assistance to local governments and communities undertaking comprehensive restoration efforts.
• University of Maryland (Maryland Industrial Partnership Program)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Innovative Technology Fund supporting research and development projects focused on developing technologies that reduce nutrient and sediment pollution in the Chesapeake Bay.
• Maryland Environmental TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation land trust operating under DNR that conserves, improves, and perpetuates natural and scenic qualities of Maryland's environment through educational and incentive programs.
• National Park ServiceminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFederal partner for Land and Water Conservation Fund grants administered by DNR, with final submissions reviewed through the National Park Service.
• Private Pier Owners (Marylanders Grow Oysters Program)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLinks private pier owners with oyster reef restoration efforts. Oysters are grown on private piers and then placed on protected reefs.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Chesapeake Bay Trust: Nonprofit grant-making partner that co-administers multiple grant programs with Maryland DNR, including the Chesapeake Bay Trust Urban Tree Grant Program and Watershed Assistance Grant Program.
• NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office: Federal program office coordinating NOAA's Chesapeake Bay science and restoration investments. Operates adjacent to Maryland DNR's water monitoring and oyster restoration programs as both a partner and data provider.

Direct peers

• Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: Pennsylvania's state agency responsible for state parks, forests, and conservation, operating a similar multi-division structure (state parks, forestry, conservation districts). Direct administrative peer with comparable parks and forest management mandate.
• Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control: Delaware's consolidated natural resources and environmental protection agency. Comparable to Maryland DNR's combined focus on parks, wildlife, water, and environmental quality programs in a Chesapeake Bay-adjacent state.
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation: New York's environmental regulatory and stewardship agency overseeing fish/wildlife, forests, parks, and water resources. Highly comparable in scope, regulatory authority, and licensing operations to Maryland DNR's full mandate.
• New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection: New Jersey's environmental and natural resource agency handling parks, forests, fish/wildlife, and water. Comparable state-level peer with similar licensing, conservation, and coastal resource management functions.
• Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources: State-level agency managing wildlife, fisheries, hunting, and boating licenses across Virginia. Closely comparable in mission, structure, and licensing model to Maryland DNR's Wildlife and Heritage and Fishing and Boating Services divisions.

Regional players

• West Virginia Division of Natural Resources: West Virginia's state wildlife, parks, and forestry agency. Operates in a different geography but with an equivalent mandate (state parks, wildlife management, hunting/fishing licensing), making it a structurally comparable public-sector peer.

Broad incumbents

• Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Major regional nonprofit focused on Chesapeake Bay restoration. Closely aligned with Maryland DNR's 'Our Waters' division and a frequent partner/grantee in oyster and watershed restoration programs.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Federal counterpart managing wildlife and habitat across the U.S. Provides federal grants, endangered species oversight, and policy frameworks that Maryland DNR's Wildlife and Heritage Service operates within.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MarylandDNR
• YouTubeyoutube.com/MarylandDNR
• Facebookfacebook.com/MarylandDNR
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/marylanddepartmentofnaturalresources
• Instagraminstagram.com/marylanddnr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Maryland Department of Natural Resources