What is a Stewardship Plan?
Wanting the best for your woods, wildlife, and water is part of being a private landowner. The only way to help your property thrive is by establishing a plan for your land. Woodland Stewardship Plans address goals such as:
Once you have a Woodland Stewardship Plan, you will qualify for upgraded tax classification. Private landowners can apply for either 2c Managed Forestland for roughly a 35% property tax reduction or the Sustainable Forest Incentive Act (SFIA), where you receive payment up to $17 per acre of qualified forestland.
Private landowners must choose one of the programs and cannot enroll in both. Northland Habitat helps determine which program is the most beneficial to our clients by walking the land and getting to know your unique goals for your property.
Did your plan expire? Use the contact form or give us a call!
Is my property eligible for a Woodland Stewardship Plan?
For purposes of a Stewardship Plan, a property should be––or plan to be––at least 20 acres of forested land.
Why should I get a Stewardship Plan?
Ever wondered what makes your slice of heaven ecologically unique? A Stewardship Plan will identify and maintain the features that make your property special. We know deer mangement is a common goal for landowners and that is why somtimes we can be deer hunters first and foresters second. But none the less we will accompany to whatever goals a landowner might have.
You can increase the wildlife, woods, and water of your woodland and get expert guidance in achieving your goals for your property through analysis and strategy.
Every Woodland Stewardship Plan is customized to each landowner, whether you want to deer hunt, hike, birdwatch, or improve the property for wildlife habitat.
So, what’s the catch?
Simply put, there isn’t one. The plan is a strategy; what you do with it is up to you. You can share the information in the Woodland Stewardship Plan with natural resource professionals, contractors you’re working with, or just your family members. If you want, Northland Habitat will continue working with you to develop logistics for:
There are even Minnesota cost-share programs that you may be able to take advantage of to improve wildlife habitat and forest health. These programs are dynamic, depending on state and federal regulations and priorities. The expert foresters with Northland Habitat have the latest information on how to qualify for available programs.
Common restrictions depend on the tax program. In general, you cannot develop or farm the land in areas qualified as stewardship acres.
