This indicator reports on the number of properties and the total area enrolled in both CLTIP and MFTIP from 2002–2020, as an indicator of both participation rates in biodiversity conservation and the proportion of private lands that are managed for biodiversity conservation.
Figure 1. Land area and participation in the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program 2002–2020.
Figure 2. Land area and participation in the Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program 2002–2020.
Status
- Between 2002 and 2020, the number of properties participating in CLTIP and MFTIP increased by 85% (from 23,714 to 43,850 properties).
- Between 2002 and 2020 the area conserved under MFTIP fluctuated with an overall increase of 6% (from 708,000 to 751,100 hectares). Some significant fluctuations in area have occurred year over year because of the changing participation of a small number of large land holdings, making the overall increase smaller. In other years, there was a general upward trend in total areas and the number of properties enrolled in the program continued to increase over time with a 91% increase between 2002–2020 (from 9,899 to 18,950 properties).
- Between 2002 and 2020 the area conserved by private landowners including community conservation lands under CLTIP increased by 43% (from 201,980 to 289,200 hectares). During that same time period the number of participating properties increased from 13,800 to 24,900 showing an 80% increase. For the 2020 tax year, approximately 18% of the lands enrolled in the CLTIP are protected as community conservation lands, representing a 1% increase in enrollment from 2018.
Data for this indicator (2002–2020) were obtained from the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP) and the Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program (CLTIP), both of which are administered by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. The number of properties enrolled, as well as the total elibible area enrolled in both MFTIP and CLTIP, were compiled for the years 2002–2020. For CLTIP the percentage of eligible properties that participate in the program was also compiled for the years 2002– 2020. This represents an index of program uptake. Data for 2002 and 2003 include some properties that were subsequently deemed ineligible, artificially inflating the data. Lands owned by conservation authorities or eligible charitable conservation organizations that have a primary objective of natural heritage conservation are also eligible for CLTIP. These community conservation lands are included in the area analysis. Note that program data is approximate as data management and collection processes have evolved over the history of the program.
Web Links:
Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program | Ontario.ca
Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program | Ontario.ca
References
Federal, Provincial and Territorial Governments of Canada (FPTGC). 2010. Canadian biodiversity: Ecosystem status and trends 2010. Canadian Councils of Resource Ministers. Ottawa, ON. [Available at: Canadian Biodiversity: Ecosystem Status and Trends 2010. Full Report | biodivcanada (chm-cbd.net)
Olive, A, and McCune, JL. 2017. Wonder, ignorance, and resistance: Landowners and the stewardship of endangered species. Journal of Rural Studies, 49, 13-22.
Ontario Biodiversity Council. 2010. State of Ontario’s biodiversity 2010. A report of the Ontario Biodiversity Council, Peterborough, ON. [Available at: https://sobr.ca/report/]
Ontario Biodiversity Council. 2015. State of Ontario’s biodiversity 2015: Summary. A report of the Ontario Biodiversity Council, Peterborough, ON. [Available at: https://sobr.ca/report/]
Ramsdell, CP, Sorice, MG, and Dwyer, AM. 2016. Using financial incentives to motivate conservation of an at-risk species on private lands. Environmental Conservation, 43(1), 34-44.
