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MANAGED FOREST TAX
INCENTIVE PROGRAM
(MFTIP) |
Obtain your MFTIP Guide
Obtain your MFTIP Guide
Obtain your Guide to Stewardship Planning for Natural Areas
What is the MFTIP?
The Ontario Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP) is designed to encourage landowner participation in natural resource stewardship on private forest land in Ontario.
Application deadline:
The application package must be submitted by June 30 to have property taxes changed for the following year.Under the MFTIP, qualifying forest lands (excluding residences) are reassessed similar to farm land values and taxed at 25% of the residential tax rate.
To participate in the MFTIP, landowners must agree to certain conditions including preparing and following a Managed Forest Plan for their forest. The goal of the plan is to improve the owner's knowledge of the forest and increase forest owner's participation in managing their forest. In turn, this helps to ensure the sustainability of Ontario's private forests.
Is Your Land Eligible for the MFTIP?
ELIGIBLE LANDS
The following criteria must be met for a property to be eligible for the MFTIP.
The property is in Ontario. The property is owned by:
a Canadian citizen(s) or permanent resident(s);
a Canadian
corporation, partnership or trust; or
a conservation authority.
The program application has more information on this requirement.
The forest:
covers at least four hectares (9.88 acres) excluding residences; and
is on one property with one municipal roll number.
The forest includes a minimum of:
1,000 trees of any size per hectare (400 trees per acre); or
750 trees
per hectare (300 trees per acre) measuring more than 5 centimetres (2 inches) in
diameter; or
500 trees per hectare (200 trees per acre) measuring more than
12 centimetres (5 inches) in diameter; or
250 trees per hectare (100 trees
per acre) measuring more than 20 centimetres (8 inches) in diameter.
The diameter measurements of trees are taken 1.3 metres (4.5 feet) above the ground.
Entering the MFTIP
Properties are entered into the MFTIP for a ten-year period. The following provides details on how to enter the MFTIP.
PREPARING AN APPLICATION PACKAGE
1. Prepare a Managed Forest Plan
Your application must include a Managed Forest Plan with a long-term horizon (20 years and beyond) and a description of the activities you will carry out over the next ten years.
A Managed Forest Plan can be written to include more than one property (i.e., assessment roll number). However, each property must qualify for the MFTIP on its own merit.
The planning framework is found in
A Guide to Stewardship Planning for Natural Areas.2. Have your Managed Forest Plan approved
A person designated by the MNR as a Managed Forest Plan Approver must approve your plan. Managed Forest Plan Approvers are independent contractors and charge for their services.
The Approver will:
visit your property and verify that the forest is eligible;
ensure
that your plan, maps and proposed activities meet program standards; and
complete approval forms.
The Approver may
also:
prepare maps and inventory;
recommend management activities; and
prepare
or revise your plan to meet program standards.
