(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2) “Conservation land” means real property that is:
(i) subject to a perpetual conservation easement donated to a land trust, the Department of Natural Resources, or the Maryland Environmental Trust on or after July 1, 1991;
(ii) 1. acquired by a land trust on or after July 1, 1991; and
2. owned in fee by that land trust;
(iii) owned by the Potomac Conservancy; or
(iv) owned by the Western Shore Conservancy.
(3) “Land trust” means a qualified conservation organization as defined in § 3-2A-01 of the Natural Resources Article.
(b) The Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City or the governing body of a county or municipal corporation may grant, by law, a property tax credit against the county or municipal corporation property tax imposed on conservation land or property owned by a land trust that qualifies under subsection (d) of this section, that is used:
(1) to assist in the preservation of a natural area;
(2) for the environmental education of the public;
(3) generally to promote conservation;
(4) for the maintenance of:
(i) a natural area for public use; or
(ii) a sanctuary for wildlife; or
(5) to conserve agricultural land and to promote continued agricultural use of the land.
(c) The Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City or the governing body of a county or municipal corporation may provide, by law, for:
(1) the amount and duration of the property tax credit under this section; and
(2) any other provision necessary to carry out the property tax credit under this section.
(d) To qualify for a property tax credit under this section, a land trust shall:
(1) be certified by the Maryland Environmental Trust to be a land trust in good standing and to have a cooperative agreement in effect; and
(2) obtain a written certification every 5 years beginning July 1, 1998, or as scheduled by the Maryland Environmental Trust.