Forest Renewal Trust and Forestry Futures Trust
How companies can be reimbursed for work carried out on Crown land, which generates forest that has been harvested or naturally depleted (e.g., tree planting).
Forest Renewal Trust
The Forest Renewal Trust provides dedicated, sustainable funding for eligible forest renewal work carried out on Crown lands in Ontario.
The Forest Renewal Trust operates under the terms of the Crown Forest Sustainability Act. The Trust is a significant part of Ontario’s forest management program.
How it works
Forest resource licence holders that harvest forest resources make payments into the Trust based on harvest volumes (the amount of wood harvested).
Following harvest, forest managers for each management unit are responsible for renewing the forest according to the approved management plan. When forest managers undertake renewal activities they submit invoices to the Forest Renewal Trust to be reimbursed for the completed renewal work.
The Forest Renewal Trust Advisory Committee provides the ministry with recommendations on administration and operation of the trust.
Eligible activities
Forest renewal activities that are funded by the Trust include:
- seed collection and processing
- seedling production and planting
- site preparation and tending
- free-to-grow surveys
- modified harvesting that promotes natural renewal
Forest Renewal Trust charges
Forest resource licence holders pay a Forest Renewal Trust charge for each cubic metre of wood harvested in Ontario. The Forest Renewal Trust charge is one component of Crown timber charges.
This charge varies depending upon anticipated renewal costs and is set annually by the ministry in consultation with forest industry.
Forest Renewal Trust charges vary by:
- tree species
- renewal needs
- management unit
View current Forest Renewal Trust charges
How to get reimbursed for forest renewal activities
When forest managers undertake renewal activities they submit invoices to the Forest Renewal Trust secretariat to be reimbursed for the completed renewal work.
Forestry Futures Trust
The Forestry Futures Trust serves as an insurance policy for the province, ensuring that forest renewal activities can be carried out in the event of natural depletions of the forest or when a major licensee becomes insolvent.
The Forestry Futures Trust operates under the terms of the Crown Forest Sustainability Act. The Trust is a significant part of Ontario’s forest management program.
How it works
The source of the funds for the Trust comes from the Forestry Futures Trust charge paid by the forest industry based on harvest volumes (the amount of wood harvested). The Forestry Futures charge is one component of Crown timber charges.
The Trust is administered by the Forestry Futures Committee (FFC) which is appointed by the Minister.
The FFC oversees the use of funds from the Trust by issuing calls for proposals, reviewing proposals and approving projects to be funded under the Trust.
Eligible activities
Activities that are funded by the Trust include:
- the funding of silvicultural expenses in Crown forests where forest resources have been killed or damaged by fire or natural causes
- the funding of silvicultural expenses on land that is subject to a forest resource licence, if the licensee becomes insolvent
- the funding of intensive stand management and pest control in respect of forest resources in Crown forests
- such other purposes as may be specified by the Minister, including:
- the independent forest audits
- the Enhanced Forest Resource Inventory program
- the Conversion program
How to get funding
The Forestry Futures Trust Committee considers proposals from eligible applicants.
Contact the FFC for more information
Forestry Futures Trust charges
Forest resource licence holders pay a Forestry Futures Trust charge for each cubic metre of wood harvested in Ontario.
The forestry futures and forest resource inventory components of the Forestry Futures Trust charge are consistent across the province.