Since forming in 2021, SMCA has been working to increase the pace of land conservation and decrease the threat of sprawl in many ways, namely through direct conservation of land, influencing the zoning process, and working to expand the land conservation toolkit in Southern Maryland. In carrying out these activities, most of which rely heavily on the actions of land-conserving organizations, SMCA has become acutely aware of the fact that land trusts and other environmental entities are play only a fraction of a role in the tug-of-war between conservation and sprawl. Landowners and local officials are two major groups that also play a role in deciding the fate of unprotected lands. In 2024, SMCA began a project to help improve its partners' conservation outreach with these key audiences. 

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With funding from the Chesapeake Bay Trust and Constellation, and in collaboration with Green Fin Studio, SMCA developed a Communication and Marketing Strategy for its partners to use. This detailed document provides united messaging and recommendations for strengthening outreach efforts, as well as a logo, tagline, and postcard that can be adopted and tailored to each organization's unique needs. 

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