Forests provide numerous benefits to society, including wildlife habitat, recreation, forest products, clean air, and clean water. Healthy forests protect our drinking water by filtering pollutants and keeping the soil in place.
Forest To MI Faucet is a new initiative with twenty conservation partners in Michigan to protect water quality by protecting forests and managing them better. Family forest landowners benefit by protecting and managing private land that produces public goods for rural communities and a healthy environment.
Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Plans are site-specific guidance from a professional forester to help landowners achieve their goals. Common recommendations help landowners improve wildlife habitat, plan for a timber harvest, identify forest health issues, plant trees and enroll in programs that require plans. Managed forests provide economic and ecological benefits to the landowner and society. More information and a list of foresters is at Michigan.gov/ForestStewardship
Enrolling in Qualified Forest Program
Landowners who develop a forest management plan to produce commercial forest products can enroll in the Qualified Forest Program to reduce their property taxes by up to 18 mills. This is about a third of typical property taxes and similar to the homestead or agricultural exemption. Land in the Qualified Forest Program does not uncap taxable value upon sale to a new owner. Public access is NOT required as in the other property tax program for forest owners, the Commercial Forest Program. More information and a longer list of foresters who develop plans is at Michigan.gov/QFP.
Permanent Conservation Easement
Conservation easements are a voluntary legal agreement to permanently protect farmland and natural lands by transferring development rights to a qualified organization. Conservation Easements protect the land from development and ensure that conservation features are protected in perpetuity.
Lands protected by conservation easements can be transferred, sold, leased, and timber harvested when done according to an approved forest management plan. If harvesting timber under an easement, landowners should work with a forester and Master Logger.
There are financial benefits for placing conservation easements on a property that may include lower property taxes. Landowners may take an income tax deduction for up to 15 years for the donation value of a conservation easement determined by a qualified appraiser. Property with a conservation easement does not uncap in taxable value when transferred to new owners, which keeps good stewardship more affordable to the next generation of landowners. For more information about protecting your forest please visit here