Roots for Resilience: Strong Roots for a Changing Landscape is a new Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Initiative designed to help Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore adapt to the challenges of climate change by enhancing nature’s ability to store carbon and buffer climate impacts. Through tree planting, coastal habitat restoration, and community engagement, the Initiative will strengthen our natural defenses while reducing carbon emissions. Roots for Resilience unites the existing relationships, initiatives, and passions on the Lower Shore to nourish roots — ecologically and socially — to preserve this rapidly changing landscape.

As part of the Roots for Resilience initiative, Maryland DNR released a Request for Proposals (RFP) on Monday, January 5, 2026 to solicit applications for construction, design/build, and design proposals for living shoreline projects. Proposed living shorelines for this initiative should be located in Wicomico, Somerset, or Dorchester Counties and protect substantial areas of adjacent wetland. The goal of this RFP is to award large-scale living shoreline restoration projects that will collectively protect a total of 400 acres of adjacent high quality tidal marsh habitat.  The RFP will be open until April 6, 2026 and is posted on the Roots for Resilience: Open Solicitations webpage. along with further instructions and eligibility requirements. The total funding available through this RFP for living shoreline restoration projects is approximately $17 million.

Upcoming Events:

DNR Office Hours for the Roots for Resilience Living Shoreline RFP will be hosted every Friday from 1pm to 2pm by Ari Engelberg

Purpose: DNR will be available to answer your questions about the RFP (no formal presentation is scheduled, just open office hours for your project support)

How: No prior signup required, just join this link at 1pm: https://meet.google.com/jtz-zkfh-fip

Why: Get your questions answered and receive project feedback!

Please contact Ari Engelberg (ari.engelberg@maryland.gov) or Sarah Koser (sarah.koser@maryland.gov) for more information about the above RFP and/or to inquire about potential project ideas.