Article Summary:
Introduction, Programs for Landowners, Legislation, Extension Notes, Science and Information, List of related items
Introduction
While the vast majority of Ontario's forests are Crown forests, approximately 11 per cent of Ontario’s productive forests are privately owned. About half of these forests are located in southern Ontario. In the southwestern portion of the province, private woodlands represent in excess of 95 per cent of the total area of woodlands and thus have a special ecological and economic significance.
Ontario’s commitment to healthy forest ecosystems extends to these private forests, although it does not have the same direct stewardship responsibility as for Crown forests.
The Ontario government encourages private land stewardship through information and incentives and by providing a framework for protection of resources at the municipal level. The landowner makes the ultimate decision of how private forests will be managed.
Programs for Landowners
Information and assistance are provided to landowners through a number of programs:
Ontario Stewardship Program
The Ontario Stewardship Program helps people find information, expertise, and funding for activities on private land. It involves a network of 40 stewardship councils, which are volunteer groups of landowners who work with a ministry staff person. Councils discuss, develop, and deliver local programs and projects.
This program provides a forum for:
- determining and expressing local needs and concerns,
- improving coordination of resource agency resources and program delivery,
- enhancing access to information and educational opportunities, and
- enhancing partnerships, teamwork, respect, and understanding between landowners and those with an interest in the land and its environmental, social, and economic benefits.
Ontario Stewardship was initiated in 1995 by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) to encourage landowners to get more involved in stewardship activities on their property. Ontario Stewardship helps people find information, expertise, and funding to ensure that private land forests are well managed.
The program’s strength lies in its stewardship councils, which are volunteer groups of landowners and land interest agencies. Each stewardship council works with an MNR staff person known as a stewardship coordinator. Many stewardship councils have representatives from forest interests and the forest industry, but each council is generally reflective of the local area it serves. Councils discuss, develop, and deliver local programs and projects.
MNR provides funding to each council to be invested in community level projects. Examples of projects include workshops on woodlot and wetland management, stream restoration projects, endangered species conservation, and community tree planting. MNR also maintains a central Opportunity Fund in partnership with local or provincially-based groups, to which councils can apply for assistance with activities that will have impact at the landscape level. MNR is able to influence activities by directing the Opportunity Fund to priority areas, such as education, tree planting and stream restoration.
[Learn more about the Stewardship Program in Ontario]
Eastern Habitat Joint Venture Program
Through the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture Program, the Ministry of Natural Resources and partners actively conserve important wetland and upland habitats for the benefit of waterfowl, other wildlife and people. Through this program, non-government partners offer technical and financial assistance to landowners for conservation projects. More..
Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program
The Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program offers a reduction in property taxes to landowners of forested land who prepare a plan and commit to be good stewards of their property.
The MFTIP was introduced to remove financial barriers to good stewardship by valuing forest land according to its current use.
The Ontario Woodlot Association and the Ontario Forestry Association are partners in the delivery of this program and handle most of the public inquiries and program administration.
The MFTIP is designed to encourage landowner participation in natural resource stewardship on private forest land in Ontario. This voluntary program is available to landowners who own four hectares or more of forest land, and who agree to prepare and follow a Managed Forest Plan for their property. Over 200 independent Managed Forest Plan Approvers are available to assist the landowner during the preparation of the plan, while providing public accountability assurances.
In 2003, the program has grown to include over 10,000 properties and 600,000 hectares. Under the program, participating landowners have their property reassessed and classified as Managed Forest and taxed at 25 percent of the municipal tax rate set for residential properties. Participants in the program range from landowners in Essex-Kent looking after their fragmented natural landscape to large forest companies in northern Ontario contributing to our northern economy.
[Learn more about the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program]
Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program
The Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program offers a reduction in property taxes to landowners who agree to protect natural heritage features on their property, such as provincially significant woodlands. In 2003, the program has over 15,000 properties participating, thereby conserving some of Ontario’s most significant natural heritage features.
[Learn more about the Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program]
Legislation
Ontario promotes the protection of natural areas through conservation easements under the Conservation Land Act. Easements may be entered into with a qualified organization and landowners can provide limits on land use. Since the easement is registered on title, it binds all owners over the easement’s term. The land may be devalued in dollar terms by the easement, which may lower property taxes.
The province provides a framework for protection of resources at the municipal level. Under the Municipal Act, all municipalities in Ontario may pass treecutting by-laws, to promote the sustainable management of private woodlands by establishing localized harvesting standards based on good forestry practices as defined in the Forestry Act.
In addition, natural heritage protection policies under the Planning Act require planning authorities to consider natural heritage features, such as significant wetlands and woodlands during development and site alteration.
Conservation Land Act | Forestry Act | Municipal Act | Planning Act
Extension Notes
MNR produces an Extension Note series that provides summary information on a wide range of topics related to land, water, wildlife, trees and property management. Other publications, of a more technical nature, are also available to landowners. Click here to access the Extension Note series.
Science and Information
Ministry of Natural Resources continues to support the sustainable management of private woodlands through the provision of science and information. A Silvicultural Guide to Managing Southern Ontario Forests was released in 2000, and provides a comprehensive overview on how best to sustain woodland values at both the stand and landscape level. Over 400 copies of this guide were distributed to forest managers within MNR, conservation authorities, and local municipalities. Special training sessions were offered in support of the guide.