Woodlot Stewardship Program

Helping Ontario Woodlot Owners Care for their Forests

Ontario's privately owned forests provide wildlife habitat, clean water, carbon storage, recreation opportunities, and sustainable forest products. Keeping these forests healthy takes time, money, planning, and ongoing stewardship. With the growing pressures our forests face today, the need for support is more pressing than ever.

The Ontario Woodlot Association's Woodlot Stewardship Program is one of the ways we put the OWA's mission into action: helping each other become the best possible stewards of our woodlands. The program was created to help bridge the gaps that stand between forest owners and good stewardship. Working in partnership with our members and forest service providers, we provide forest owners with the support and expertise to undertake practical stewardship projects that improve the health of their woodlots and support their long-term management goals.

The Woodlot Stewardship Program is in its early stages. We don't currently have funded opportunities available for members, but we will post them here as they become available. In the meantime, if you'd like to discuss your woodlot's needs or potential opportunities, please contact us.

Who is the program for?

The program is intended for Ontario Woodlot Association members who are actively managing their forests and committed to long term stewardship that provides environmental, social, and economic benefits.

Participants will generally be expected to:

Be a current OWA member
Demonstrate a long-term commitment to responsible forest management
Have a property that is suitable for the specific project or support opportunity
Be willing to share lessons learned and support woodland education and outreach
Have or develop a management plan

Detailed eligibility requirements will be provided with each call for applications.

What types of projects and activities may be supported?

Types of projects may include:

Stand improvement: Restoring degraded plantations and natural forests, such as high-graded hardwood stands and overstocked balsam fir
Invasive species management: Managing emerald ash borer (EAB), hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), beech bark disease (BBD), buckthorn, and other terrestrial invasive species
Disturbance resilience: FireSmart practices and climate change resilience

Supported activities may include:

Forest health assessments
Tending or supplementing forest regeneration
Pre-commercial/non-commercial thinning
Forest restoration such as invasive species control and biodiversity enhancement
Stewardship monitoring and follow-up work
Activities that contribute to the local economy

Available projects and activities may vary depending on funding and program priorities.

Working with forestry professionals

Most stewardship projects require specialized knowledge, equipment, or experience. Participants will work with qualified forestry professionals, contractors, arborists, or other service providers.

All forestry professionals engaged through the program are expected to meet applicable professional, safety, and project standards.

Learning together

The Woodlot Stewardship Program is about more than individual projects. It is also an opportunity to share knowledge and showcase good stewardship.

Participants may be invited to contribute:

Photos and project updates
Demonstration tours
Monitoring information
Case studies and success stories
Articles and outreach materials

These activities help share practical experience and encourage stewardship across Ontario's woodland community.

How the program is funded

The Woodlot Stewardship Program is designed to reduce barriers to forest stewardship by combining multiple sources of support.

Funding may come from grants, corporate sponsorships, donations, and partnerships that help cover project costs. In some cases, revenue generated from the sustainable production of forest products through stewardship activities may help offset project costs.

As the program grows, OWA will continue exploring innovative approaches that support both healthy forests and affordable stewardship opportunities for landowners.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Interested in donating to this program? Click here.

Stay connected

More information coming soon

Support opportunites, application details, and program timelines will be announced as the become available

Become an OWA Member Contact Us

As new support opportunities become available, information will be shared through the OWA website, newsletters, and member communications.

For more information, please contact:

elliott.groen@ontariowoodlot.com