Woodlands Stewardship Program

What is the Woodlands Stewardship Program?

The Woodlands Stewardship Program supports Halton’s rich and diverse natural legacy, unique features, and diverse plants and wildlife.

The goals of this program are to:

• increase awareness in the stewardship of forested areas;
• encourage interest and active management of forest resources on private lands in Halton Region; and
• increase the long-term quantity and quality of forested areas in Halton Region.

Halton Region’s Woodlands Stewardship Program provides three funding opportunities:

• Forest Management Planning
• Complementary Tree Marking Services
• Purchasing and Planting of Nursery Stock

Eligibility and Funding

Information regarding eligibility and funding criteria for participation in the Woodlands Stewardship Program is included below.

Forest Management Plan:

This program is for private landowners who are interested in preparing a Forest Management Plan to increase the quality and quantity of forested areas on their properties within Halton Region.

• Minimum property size of 2 hectares or 5.0 acres.
• The plan must be prepared by a Registered Professional Forester.
• Qualified landowners can receive 50% of their incurred costs for developing a plan, up to a maximum of up to $1000 per property.
• Please note: Upon project completion, all invoices and plans must be submitted to Regional staff for review and approval. All funded projects are subject to field verification/plan review prior to the release of funds.

Complementary Tree Marking Services:

This program is for landowners who are interested in retaining or harvesting trees on their private property. Removal of trees in woodlands may require advance approval by Halton’s Regional Forester.

• Minimum woodland size of 0.5 hectare or 1.2 acres.
• The tree marking services must be completed by Halton’s Regional Forester to be used solely by the landowner and not for product sale.
• This service at no cost to the landowner, and does not allow for additional costs to be funded.

Purchase and Planting of Nursery Stock:

This program is for landowners who are interested in rehabilitating natural areas on their private property.

• Minimum property size of 2 hectares or 5.0 acres.
• Supports only for the planting of native trees and shrubs. Preference is given to projects that:
  1. Maintain or establish slope stability, stream bank/riparian stability and stream bank cover.
  2. Increase connectivity amongst existing woodlands.
  3. Restoration projects or plantation establishment in accordance with an approved Forest Management Plan.
• Qualified landowners may be eligible to receive 50% of the incurred costs for rehabilitation projects, up to a maximum of $2000 per property.
• Please note: Upon project completion, all invoices and plans must be submitted to Regional staff for review and approval. All funded projects are subject to field verification/plan review prior to the release of funds.

Applications

All applications are reviewed on a first come, first served basis, and are subject to budget availability. For more information about filing an application, please read the Woodlands Stewardship Program Guidelines (PDF file).

Applicants must fill out the following application form, and submit a completed form to the Halton Regional Forester at forests@halton.ca.

Need more information?

For more information, please contact the Halton Regional Forester.

• Call 311 or 905-825-6000
• Toll free 1-866-4HALTON (1-866-442-5866)
• TTY 905-827-9833
• forests@halton.ca