Incentive Programs

Provincial interest in forest stewardship on private lands is not administered and regulated to the same extent as forest stewardship on Crown lands.

In Ontario, a growing number of private forest landowners are adopting sustainable forest management practices with encouragement and support from public agencies such as:

• Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR)
• Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
• Municipalities
• Various non-government organizations such as local woodlot owners associations and the private sector.

Together, they work through a variety of cooperative and related efforts and incentives. The various types of cooperative and related efforts available for private forest landowners include information, education and skills training opportunities through complementary programs and incentives for promoting healthy forest ecosystems.

In addition, the Ontario government provides legislative support tools to assist with private land stewardship, protecting woodlands and trees in rural and urban areas, balancing land use decisions in designated conservation landscapes and establishing conservation easements.

MNR promotes healthy forest ecosystems on privately owned forest lands through incentives under the:

• Ontario Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program
• Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program
• Ontario Stewardship

The MNR is responsible for the administration of the Ontario Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program.

Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP)

The Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program offers a reduction in property taxes as an incentive to private forest owners who prepare a forest management plan and commit to good forestry practices on their property.

Under the MFTIP, forest land is valued according to its current use and forest owner awareness of forest stewardship is increased. Program participants range from private forest owners in southern Ontario to large forest companies in northern Ontario. Their property is classified and assessed as a “managed forest” according to the managed forest property class under the Assessment Act administered by the Ministry of Finance.

Some landowners may use the planning framework and forms found in the Guide to Stewardship Planning for Natural Areas to prepare a Managed Forest Plan for entrance into MFTIP. Plans prepared for entrance into the MFTIP must follow the requirements outlined in the MFTIP Guide and be approved by a Managed Forest Plan Approver.

Guide to Stewardship Planning for Natural Areas

Guide to Stewardship Planning for Natural Areas contains information on land stewardship and provides a framework to help rural landowners create a stewardship plan for their property.

Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program Guide

Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program Guide provides information on how to enter and participate in the MFTIP.

• Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program
• Ontario Stewardship