The Managed Forest Law
is attractive because of the flexibility and many benefits it offers. It combines some
characteristics of both the FCL and the WTL. Landowners have the option to choose a 25 or
50 year contract period. It is open to all private landowners.
Enacted in 1985, the Managed
Forest Law will be revised in 1998 and every five years after that. Over 11,000 landowners
have enrolled about 719,000 acres of forest land. Early conversion from FCL to MFL was
open through January 1, 1998.
Conditions
at least 10 acres of contiguous forest land located in a village or town
taxing unit
at least 80 percent of the land must have a minimum productive capacity
of 20 cubic feet of timber per acres in a year
a minimum forest cover of 80 percent
a minimum average width of 120 feet
Obligations
submit management plan
follow management plan
pay 85 cents annual tax per acre on open land and $2 per acre on closed
land
permit public access for hunting, fishing, cross-country skiing,
sight-seeing, and hiking
adopt sound management practices
submit cutting notice before harvesting; unauthorized cutting is subject
to a maximum of $1,000 fine
submit cutting report after harvesting
report accurate volumes of timber harvested
pay 5 percent yield tax based on stumpage value after harvest
apply post-harvest treatment
permit field inspections
Benefits
management plan
protection against over cutting
protection against annual tax hike
low property tax
deferred tax until harvest
landowners' right to close up to 80 acres of their lands to the public
technical assistance
permits rollover from FCL through January 1, 1998
predictable taxes
long-term investment
encourages woodland expansion
minimum land area requirement of only 10 acres
Withdrawals &
Penalty
If the landowner decides to withdraw before the contract ends, or if
the land is declassified, he or she is obliged to pay a penalty.