Woodland owners with 10 acres or more of forest lands can take advantage of the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program.  Landowners must prepare (or have prepared) a management plan for a 20 year period.  This plan includes a 10-year operating plan specifying the management actions to be carried out in the coming five years.  The Plan must be approved by a Managed Forest Plan Approver. 

The deadline for the submission of Management Plans is June 30th. 

Registered Professional Foresters (OPFA members) may be able to assist you in providing advice in preparing your management plan.  Those members who are Managed Forest Plan Approvers are included on the list available from the Ministry of Natural Resources offices and the two partners for the Program - Ontario Forestry Association and Ontario Woodlot Association.  Contact the OPFA office for these names or visit  Consulting Registered Professional Foresters, who are Plan Approvers and do forestry consulting.  See also our brochure "Managing Your Woodlands" which outlines the various aspects the professional forester could provide.

An audit of your Plan is required at the end of each 10-year plan.  This can be completed by the landowner.  At that time an updated approved 10-year operating plan must also be approved and submitted.  An audit of your plan is required on exiting the program.

The landowners benefit under the program through obtaining a much improved knowledge of the forest values as a result of having completed a Management Plan and paying reduced land taxes for the managed woodlot.  The work to be carried out will be set out in a 10-year operating plan.  This plan and the details of the woodland inventory will serve the owner in future years and be an asset in transfer of the property to relatives or on sale to others.  A Registered Professional Forester can assist you. 

For additional information on the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program, landowners may also wish to contact one of the following:

OPFA's List of Consulting Registered Professional Foresters

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

Managing Forests on Private Lands (MFTIP)   

Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program (CLTIP)

Read the results of the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP)
- Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR) Review June 2004

Ontario Forestry Association

Ontario Woodlot Association

For Resource materials: 

Landowner Resource Centre  (LRC)

The Ontario Professional Foresters Association has a long tradition of striving for better standards, legislation, and forest management programs in Ontario for both public and private lands.

For more information on the OPFA members who are Managed Forest Plan Approvers  see the List of Consulting Registered Professional Foresters or for additional information on forestry and woodlands issues, contact the OPFA.

Professional Foresters may become involved in Municipal Forest Conservation By-Laws.
See Questions and Answers, "The Professional Foresters Act" pertaining to Forest Conservation By-laws in Southern Ontario

For more information on Registered Professional Foresters and woodlands issues, contact the OPFA.

This page last modified February 01, 2012