An essential guide to Maryland's ecosystems, history, and conservation. Winner of the 2025 ANROSP Award for Outstanding Educational Materials Immerse yourself in the wonders of Maryland's diverse ecosystems with The Maryland Master Naturalist's Handbook . Edited by seasoned environmentalists McKay Jenkins and Joy Shindler Rafey, this essential guide explores the intricate tapestry of Maryland's natural world, from the geological foundations of the Susquehanna River to the vibrant ecosystems of the Chesapeake Bay. This book illustrates the deep connections among the state's history, its people, and the land they have long inhabited. It journeys through forests, rivers, and mountains while uncovering the complex interplay of flora, fauna, and human communities. Learn from experts in fields ranging across urban ecology, entomology, and climate science, who share their insights and passion for environmental stewardship. Essays cover essential topics such as: • Maryland land use history • Chesapeake Bay and urban ecology • Environmental justice • Geology, soils, and botany • Invasive species • Birds, insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals • Citizen science • Climate change in Maryland This volume serves as the primary text for the Maryland Master Naturalist training course and encourages a broader audience to engage in ecological restoration and conservation efforts. Whether you're a budding naturalist or an experienced environmentalist, this book will deepen your understanding of Maryland's ecological systems and empower you to contribute to the preservation of its natural beauty. This book provides a remarkably concise and well-written master class on everything you need to know about the environment in the Land of Pleasant Living―from the Chesapeake Bay, to the geology, climate, birds, fish, insects, mammals, invasive species, and urban landscapes. It's an educational treasure chest for nature lovers. ―Tom Pelton, author of The Chesapeake in Focus: Transforming the Natural World This volume is a rich resource for training naturalists for critical outreach work in the face of climate change and other environmental threats. Full of information about soils, birds, plants, etc., it also engages the reader in imagining how human communities in Maryland can reshape how we belong in ecosystems. ―Alison Pearce, Nature Forward An essential guide to Maryland's ecosystems, history, and conservation. Joy Shindler Rafey is the statewide coordinator of the Maryland Master Naturalist Program for University of Maryland Extension.For more information on the Master Naturalist Program visit go.umd.edu/masternaturalist. McKay Jenkins is the Cornelius Tilghman Professor of English and Journalism and the founder and director of the environmental humanities program at the University of Delaware. He is the coeditor of The Delaware Naturalist Handbook and the author of Food Fight, Contamination, and eight other books about nature and history.