MANITOULIN—Haweater Maria Diebolt has conservation in her blood. The daughter of retired Conservation Officer John Diebolt, she has returned to her native Manitoulin to help Islanders in their own forestry conservation efforts and to map out a managed forest plan in order to qualify for the Ontario Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program.
Ms. Diebolt explained that she is a recent graduate of Lakehead University with a major in forestry conservation and this opportunity, to be a managed forest plan approver, was a perfect opportunity for her to practice her trade. “I really like talking to people, so this is kind of a natural step for me,” she said.
The tax incentive program, she explained, is jointly administrated between the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ontario Forestry Association and the Ontario Woodlot Association.
She explained that the term ‘managed forest’ means getting landowners to manage their forests in a sustainable way. For landowners with 10 acres or more of forested land (excluding residences), they could receive a 75 percent tax reduction on that portion of their land. Ms. Diebolt gave the example of people who own hunting properties or a maple stand as those who may want to make a managed forest plan.
If a landowner thinks this is the right move for them, they would call Ms. Diebolt who would do a walk-through of the property to make sure it qualifies. The property cannot be classed as agricultural or aggregate land, she noted. The plan itself can be done either by the landowner or Ms. Diebolt can be hired to formulate the plan. She will also give the plan a once over if done by the landowner before being sent on to the MNR for final approval.
“It’s a good program and it doesn’t inhibit any of the things you’ve already been doing on your property,” she said.
Trees can still be cut down for trail breaking, firewood or even sustainable harvesting, as long as new trees are planted in their stead.
“It gets people involved in their land and taking responsibility for it,” she added.
The plan is a 20-year commitment with the MNR sending a form to the landowner every five years as a kind of a ‘check in’ to make sure nothing has changed drastically within the forest, and in 10 years time Ms. Diebolt would perform another walkthrough of the land.
The deadline to apply for a tax reduction for next year is June 30.
To reach Ms. Diebolt, call her at 1-705-662-5761 or email her at maria_diebolt@hotmail.com.
