managed forest conservation easement...
TRANSCRIPT
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Managed Forest Conservation Easement Agreements:
Thinking Beyond Incentive Programs
Jeremy Collins, Acquisitions Coordinator, OHT
October 23, 2015
Presentation Overview
• Managed Forest Programs
• MFCEA Candidates
• Why we need MFCEAs
• Trust approach to MFCEAs
• MFCEA Objectives / Definitions / Mechanics / Operation
• MFCEA example (Munn Property)
• Caveats for MFCEA properties
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Managed Forest Programs
• Enhancement of biodiversity and promotion of sustainable forestry • Forest Stewardship Council / Smart Wood certification• Eastern Ontario Model Forest• Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP)• Certification is tied to ownership, not property• Managed Forest Plans developed for each owner and site• Ontario Professional Foresters Association• MNRF certified Managed Forest Plan Approvers • 2015: 16,400 properties, 1.8M acres participating in MFTIP• Forests Ontario and Ontario Woodlot Association• Periodic Plan review and renewal (10 years)• Some Managed Forest owners concerned about legacy
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Managed Forest Conservation Easement Agreement (MFCEA) Candidates
• Managed Forest Plan exists
• Property has a natural heritage
core values
• Plan has biodiversity objectives
and activities
• Plan satisfies the legal needs
of the holder
• Fiscal sustainability
• Individual owner / property
• Interested owner
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Why we need Managed Forests
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Why we need Managed Forests
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Trust’s approach to MFCEAs
• Simpler approach than some American comparables• Based on a standard OHT HCEA• MFCEA holder and owner adopt the Managed Forest Plan
(MFP) as the “Stewardship Plan” for the property• All MFP activities are pre-approved under the MFCEA just
like approved Stewardship Plan activities are considered approved alterations under the standard HCEA
• The MFP also provides a good base (not a substitute) upon which to build the baseline documentation record (BDR) and legal description
• The MFP operates independently of the MFCEA
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MFCEA Objectives
1. Protect, enhance, or restore native biodiversity in accordance with approved MFP
2. Prevent activities not authorised in the MFP
3. Secure long term commitment to sustainable “Good Forestry Practices” that enhance natural heritage value and native biodiversity
4. Objectives must be reflected in MFP
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MFCEA definitions
• “Approved Managed Forest Program”
• “Managed Forest Plan”
• “Good Forestry Practices”
• “Qualified Person”
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MFCEA Mechanics
• Section 4.2MFP activities permitted under MFCEA
• Section 4.3Approval required for activities not covered in the MFP
• Section 4.4 – MFP– 10-year term– subject to periodic review– Consistent with Approved Managed Forest Program requirements– Subject to written approval of Qualified Person and OHT– If these conditions not met, then no pre-approval for MFP activities
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MFCEA Operation
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Managed Forest
Plan in place
MFCEA holder endorses existing
MF Plan
Owner and holder execute a MFCEA
Property regulated by MF Plan
MF Plan expires / requires review &
renewal
Change in ownership
Owner withdrawals from Managed Forest Program
Property is regulated by “forever wild”
covenants
New plan developed / renewed
Owner chooses not to renew / prepare
MF Plan
Property regulated
by MF Plan
Munn property
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Munn property
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Munn property
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Munn Property
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Munn Property
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Munn property
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Munn property
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Caveats for MFCEA properties
• MPTIP Plan is no substitute for a BDR but offers good background info in preparing one (e.g. forest compartments are not ELC communities)
• MTIP implementation activities can impact natural heritage values (i.e. introduce invasives)
• Equipment washing should be requested before entry on property
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Thank you!
Jeremy Collins | Acquisitions Coordinator
Ontario Heritage Trust
10 Adelaide Street East, Toronto,
Ontario Canada M5C 1J3Telephone: 416-325-5017 | Fax: 416-314-5979
Email: [email protected]
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