Will Sussex County gets serious about forest protection?

Woodlands have value.

"According to the Delaware State Forest Service, Sussex County has lost 43,000 acres of forest in less than 25 years, much of it due to residential construction." "Council members say the broader goal is to steer development toward established towns and areas already experiencing growth, rather than rural parts of the county where large tracts of forest remain."

“Council is considering a forest preservation ordinance that refines what is currently in our code to help ensure more valuable forests are protected as a standard. We would do that by creating specific definitions that allow certain types of forests to be identified as more valuable than others. If passed, and as a requirement with each new development, there would be a tree specialist who would provide a report on each forest and identify the areas required to be preserved," says 1st district (Seaford - Laurel area) councilman Matt Lloyd.

The proposed ordinance was presented to the County Council on April 21. Some time will pass before there is an opportunity for public comment. Without inspecting each and every word in the document, it looks to us like a good thing.

Proposed County Forest Ordinance presented 4-21-2026.pdf

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