Welcome to the Stewardship Portal!

The Stewardship portal hosts the Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry tax incentive programs:

Tax incentive programs provide municipal property tax relief to landowners who voluntarily agree to protect or sustain manage natural heritage lands in Ontario. The tax incentive programs continue to grow as landowners become aware of the benefits that these programs offer to assist them in achieving their stewardship goals.

 

 

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What Can I Do?

Through this Stewardship Portal website you can apply to select programs online and access your project information at your convenience.

You must register and create an account before you will be able to login to the Stewardship Portal. Login or sign-up for an account.

Once logged in, you can request access to the programs listed below. Send Access Request

Stewardship icon Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program

The Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP) is a voluntary program 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. Under the MFTIP, 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. To participate in the MFTIP, landowners must agree to certain conditions including preparing and following a managed forest plan for their forest. The plan must be approved by an individual certified by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) as a Managed Forest Plan Approver. The plan improves the owner's knowledge of the forest and increases the owner's participation in managing the forest. In turn, this helps to encourage the stewardship of Ontario's private forests. (details)

Stewardship icon Conservation Lands Tax Incentive Program

Ontario has a rich and varied natural heritage. Many of Ontario's most significant natural areas are privately owned. As the pressures on such areas increase, it is important to encourage private stewardship of the province's outstanding natural features. The Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program (CLTIP) is designed to recognize, encourage and support the long-term private stewardship of Ontario's provincially significant conservation lands by providing property tax relief to those landowners who agree to protect the natural heritage values of their property. The current tax relief offered is 100 % tax exemption on that eligible portion of the property. (details)