2025 (June)
Delaware Tree and Climate Workshop
EFC partnered with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Division of Climate, Coastal, and Energy to plan and facilitate the Delaware Tree and Climate Workshop. This event convened partners from across the state to forge alignment around Delaware’s interrelated priorities related to forestry, urban trees, natural and working lands, and climate resilience.
2021 (June)
Community-Centered Natural Resource Benefits Valuation: Mispillion Watershed, Delaware
Over the last century, the Mispillion watershed, which includes the City of Milford and Slaughter Beach, Delaware, has experienced considerable losses in forests and wetlands. Residents describe the remaining Mispillion watershed marshes as “pristine” and “unique”. The watershed contains significantly protected lands, is bordered by National Wildlife Refuges, and contains internationally recognized flyways for migrating birds, including the endangered Red Knot.
Congratulations to the Sustainable Maryland Class of 2024!
The Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland announced that 17 Maryland municipalities were honored at the Sustainable Maryland Awards Ceremony at the Maryland Municipal League’s annual Fall Conference last week.
EFC Project Supports Local Stormwater Solutions
The Environmental Finance Center (EFC), in partnership with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and other local organizations, developed a series of peer-to-peer learning workshops for municipal governments in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
Resourcefulness and Resilience: Hendricks Delivers Keynote on Hybrid Stormwater Systems
Assistant Professor Marccus D. Hendricks delivered a keynote at the 2021 American Water Resources Association Mid-Atlantic Conference on hybrid stormwater systems. In his presentation, Dr. Hendricks proposes the merits of leveraging existing infrastructure, community resources and networked plans as part of climate hazard mitigation plans.
2022
Economic Benefits of Parks and Open Space in New York City
Valuation of an area’s natural resources helps build knowledge and awareness of the importance of the services and benefits nature provides to humans. Parks and green space in urban areas, in particular, provide aesthetic, recreation, and health benefits which are vital to residents’ well-being. Despite these well-known advantages, cities still experience challenges with funding public parks. Benefit valuation is one way to communicate to decision-makers the importance of continued public funding in natural infrastructure.
2021
Seeking Stormwater Solutions: Getting the MOST for Local Leaders
The Environmental Finance Center in partnership with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay planned and implemented a virtual training program for local governments using on-demand courses from the MOST Center, facilitated peer-to-peer discussion forums, and matchmaking with local watershed groups and technical service providers. Three pilot-scale cohorts in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, engaged 30 participants from 15 local governments throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
New Report Highlights Economic Benefits of Parks in NYC
In a new report, UMD Environmental Finance Center's Dr. Jennifer Egan and a team led by the Trust for Public Land identify the economic benefits provided by parks in New York City.
EFC Releases New Online Course: Landscaping for Resilience in a Changing Climate
The EFC is pleased to announce the release of a new online course at the MOST Center: Landscaping for Resilience in a Changing Climate.
EPA awards University of Maryland’s Environmental Finance Center six-year grant
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has selected the University of Maryland as the recipient of a six-year award to expand the work of the university’s Environmental Finance Center (EFC). The grant, one of only nine awarded nation-wide, will allow the center to develop new financing initiatives that span a wide environmental spectrum, from sustainability and green infrastructure to climate and energy issues.