Sustainable Forestry & Carbon Tax Credit Strategies
Sustainable Forestry
Forests are among the most important resources we have on Earth. Not only are we reliant on timber for structural lumber, paper, heating homes, and so many other necessary aspects of our civilized lives, our forests are also a major source of oxygen we need to breathe, store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and provide an ecosystem and healthy habitat for thousands of different species of animals around the world and in our back yards.
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In Maine and New Hampshire, we benefit from robust forests that largely sustain themselves, don’t experience frequent forest fires, and generally prosper, but this isn’t a luxury we should take for granted. In many places in the world forests are rare, overharvested, or neglected. The point of “sustainable forestry” is to critically analyze our policies and plans to make sure they take the long-term impact of our actions into account.
After all, just 150 years ago, or so, Maine had a lot more open fields and a penchant for sheep as the result of heavy lumbering, and now it is mostly woodland. Our actions as individuals and as a society dictate the outcomes we experience. We take sustainable forestry practices seriously, because we take our responsibilities as forestry professionals seriously.
The forest carbon offset tax credit system is a crucial part of persevering our earth and positively impacting climate change. This is the process of creating a neutral net carbon footprint by offsetting your carbon emissions. We focus solely on the Improved Forest Management program in our region. Tall Pines Forest Management is ready to help you navigate the process of participating in these programs by identifying what is available to you and what makes the most sense for you and your land.
For guidance on Forest Carbon Offset programs in regards to your land, contact Tall Pines Forest Management today. It can make all the difference when planning out your land tax costs!
Forestland Certification
The average consumer is much more in tune with global sustainability efforts and is constantly looking for alternatives that adhere to such practices. This outlook extends to the forestry industry as well. As a result, having forestland certifications help to bolster your conservation and management efforts.
Forestland certifications are placed onto the products and resources coming out of your land. They serve to differentiate products that are borne from following environmentally friendly and socially acceptable practices. As a result, they boost your timber business in the market, allowing you to gain the recognition it deserves and gain higher markups for profitability.
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is one such body that provides forestland certifications for forests of varying acreage. Besides giving credentials to large forest ownership timber plantations worldwide, they also extend this service to family-owned forestry companies.
To gain this certification and reap its benefits, we can help you achieve the management plans and tools necessary for verification by their subsidiary representatives. We are well versed in the standards and procedures put forward by FSC and are more than capable of explaining them to our clients. Our focus remains on cost-effective measures that can facilitate your verification so that you can attain the highest return on investment.
Conservation Easement
Conservation Easements are essentially a legal agreement between you, the landowner, and another institution, whether a private land trust or state-run bodies. It is put in place to exclude certain developments and protect aspects of your property. Many times these are used to preserve the natural habitat of a forest.
You may require help with facilitating and negotiating conservation easements with the relevant authorities to ensure that your interests are protected. Depending on what you want to protect, multiple parties may be involved, each exerting their rights. We can help you draft up the documents, help define the terms, and consult on the benefits of going ahead with a specific protection regime that will protect your land for generations to come.
Tax Program Enrollment and Renewal
Maintaining your forest as a productive woodland has its merits. In 1972, the government of Maine put forward the Tree Growth Tax Law to reward landowners who are committed to growing and harvesting commercial forest products to support the timber industry. It’s essentially a program offered by the government that lowers the amount of taxes you’ll have to pay on your property. However, it entails that you manage your property according to a forest management plan prepared by a licensed forester; this plan should reflect your objectives for the property. Hence, if you’re looking for enrollment into this program or require compliance if you’re already a part of it, then you’ll need proper management. Not only will it help you with the tax burden, but it also helps you realize the value of your timber.
If you’re interested in our expert opinion or require our help with any of the above services, contact us at service@tallpinesfm.com. Or visit our contact page.