Greenlands Securement offers a range of opportunities for landowners to protect, preserve and enhance key natural heritage features and areas on their properties – from stewardship activities to donating or selling portions of their property to conservation agencies. Here are some programs available to landowners in Peel:
Credit Valley Conservation (CVC)
CVC Forestry Services helps landowners who need assistance with their trees and forests. If you own property in the Credit Valley, CVC staff can:
If you have open land on your property and are interested in converting it to forest with bare root seedlings, consider participating in CVC's Private Landowner Reforestation Planting Program (Program 1). Those who are eligible can save about 90% on their planting project.
To qualify for the program, landowners must own at least two acres of land and meet specific eligibility requirements.
For more information, contact:
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)
Toronto and Region Conservation's Private Land Tree Planting Program helps private landowners by offering technical and financial support to restore and improve your property through the planting of native trees, shrubs and seedlings.
With more than 40 years of planting and forest management experience, professionally trained staff provide planting services and hardy native plant materials, many of which are carefully grown in TRCA's nursery from locally collected seed in order to promote ecosystem regeneration.
For more information, contact:
Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP)
The Ontario Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP) is a voluntary program that can save landowners 75% of property taxes on eligible portions of their property. This provincial program recognizes the importance of privately owned forests and the benefits they provide to all Ontarians.
To qualify a property must:
New program applications must be submitted by June 30 to enter the program in the following calendar year. For complete program eligibility and application requirements visit the MFTIP website.
For more information:
Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program (CLTIP)
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) offers a property tax incentive program for landowners whose properties contain provincially significant natural heritage features or areas. The Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program recognizes, encourages and supports the long-term private stewardship of Ontario's provincially important natural areas. Under the Conservation Land Tax Incentive. Program, portions of your property that have eligible natural heritage features may qualify for a 100% property tax exemption.
The area needs to be:
You also need to:
The natural heritage features eligible types of land are:
If you think you qualify for the program but have never received an application, contact MNRF, 1-800-268-8959, cltip@ontario.ca.
Have your 15-digit property assessment roll number ready or include it in your e-mail.
Environment and Climate Change Canada offers an income tax incentive program for landowners who wish to donate their land or a conservation easement to a conservation body. The Ecological Gifts Program enables owners of property with sensitive natural features to conserve their land's biodiversity and environmental heritage in perpetuity. Ecological Gifts may include lands that are:
In many scenarios, the landowner can continue to hold title and/or live on the land.
For more information, contact:
The Region of Peel, in partnership with CVC and TRCA, has developed the Peel Rural Water Quality Program (PRWQP) to support agricultural landowners as they try to make a better connection between agriculture, rural land use and the environment. This program was developed with input from local farmers and residents of Peel, as well as representatives from the Peel Federation of Agriculture and the Peel Soil and Crop Improvement Association. It provides technical assistance and funding for qualified rural landowners to assist them to continue their efforts as environmental stewards.
For more information, contact:
The Landowner Outreach Initiative aims to increase greenlands securement activity in strategically targeted areas of Peel Region through landowner education, land donations and conservation easements.
Focusing on landowner education, land donations and conservation easements demonstrates an effective and affordable way to develop a strategic approach to secure greenlands within the Region of Peel. To achieve this goal, the Region has hired OrLand Conservation as a part-time and independent landowner outreach co-ordinator to work at arm's length of the Region and its partners and to:
The landowner outreach co-ordinator is currently contacting landowners throughout Peel whose properties contain key natural heritage features, areas and values. The coordinator is offering them information on how they can participate in greenlands securement efforts, some of which offer tax benefits.
Deciding how to protect the natural features of land is unique and personal. Some landowners want to protect the natural heritage values of their land for future generations. Some may see conservation as a way to resolve property or potential income tax challenges. Others may view it as a way to sort out future uses of a property now shared by members of an expanding family or community group. The following provides a few examples of ways to link conservation choices with financial benefits:
It is recommended that landowners discuss any options that are of interest with family members, a lawyer, accountant and/or financial advisor.
If you are interested in learning more about how you can leave a permanent natural heritage legacy through acquisition tools, such as a land donation or conservation easements, contact your watershed conservation authority:
If you live on the Oak Ridges Moraine, you also have the option to contact the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust to learn about permanently protecting the Oak Ridges Moraine. Contact:
If you live on the Niagara Escarpment, you also have the option to contact the Bruce Trail Conservancy to learn about permanently protecting a conservation corridor, which will include the Bruce Trail. Contact:
For more information about the Region of Peel Greenlands Securement Program, contact: