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The reasons for owning forestland can be diverse. Some landowners manage for income, some to preserve wildlife habitat, and others for a variety of reasons that may combine conservation and timber management objectives. The basic principle of sustainable forest management is to manage forests in such a way that minimizes environmental impacts and contributes to maintaining forest values across the landscape. Landowners have the final word regarding what they do on private property, but they also have a responsibility to sustain the resource for future generations. The Ontario government supports sound forest management on private lands through the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP). Under MFTIP, qualifying forest lands are reassessed similar to farm land values and taxed at 25% of the residential tax rate.
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