Managed Forest Incentive Tax Program

Ontario Woodlot Association | May 04, 2016

If you own a woodlot, here is an opportunity to create a 10-year management plan for your woodlot and save money on your property taxes, similar to agricultural land.

On Saturday, May 14, the Limestone Chapter of the Ontario Woodlot Association is hosting a workshop in Verona to help people with woodlots of 10 acres or more understand the steps to making a Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP) plan. Note that pre-registration is required.

"There are people who have MFTIP plans who basically want to do very minimal things in their woods and simply preserve it for wildlife habitat. Even then, their plan can include monitoring for disease and invasive species, building walking trails, or putting in nesting boxes and platforms. There are all sorts of things you can put into your plan and no one is going to tell you what you have to do. As long as it follows sound forestry principles then it's up to you. Planning will involve hiring a MFTIP Plan Approver to help assess the woods and figure out the right approach for filling out the MFTIP forms. I recovered the cost of the Plan Approver in the first year of tax savings alone,” said Dave Sexsmith, OWA Provincial President

The workshop is set up in two parts. In the morning, Rob Spence, the MFTIP Coordinator from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry, will describe the program. Then, David Smallwood, MFTIP Plan Approver will present an overview of a typical MFTIP plan.

In the afternoon, participants will travel to a local property, where the family is beginning to plan their MFTIP. This is a chance to learn more about the program on the ground. Participants will meet at Trinity United Church Hall at 6689 Road 38 in Verona. The workshop will run from 8:30 am to 4 pm. The cost for the day is $25, which includes a chili lunch, and OWA members are free. If you are interested in becoming an OWA member at the event, the fee will be waived. The annual OWA membership is $45. Pre-registration is required; contact Kevin Hansen at 613-449-0732 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To learn more, visit www.ontariowoodlot.com.