Your land provides tremendous public benefits including clean water, wood products, agricultural products, climate change mitigation, and wildlife habitat.  In recognition of these many benefits, Massachusetts offers the Ch. 61 Current Use tax programs which lower property taxes in exchange for a commitment to continuing to provide these public benefits by maintaining their land in one of the three eligible uses:  Ch. 61 (forestry), Ch. 61 A (agriculture), Ch. 61B (open space/recreation). Learn more

The Massachusetts Forest Stewardship Program (FSP) supports and encourages private forest landowners' efforts to manage, enjoy, and care for their land using a long-term approach. The FSP is a program of the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Bureau of Forestry which strives to provide education and periodic cost-share opportunities to forest landowners.  The program is administered in partnership by DCR and the Massachusetts Woodlands Institute. The FSP currently has funds available for preparing new Forest Stewardship management plans. Learn more

Foresters for the Birds provides funding assistance for a trained private forester to evaluate the existing and potential habitat for birds that rely on the forests of Massachusetts for much of their breeding habitat. The birds were selected by Mass Audubon as conservation priorities, and cover a range of forest types.  Foresters provide landowners with forest management recommendations to improve or create new bird habitat, which must be incorporated into an existing or new Forest Stewardship Plan. Private landowners with 10 or more wooded acres are eligible to receive funding assistance for the development of a Bird Habitat Assessment. Learn more

The Massachusetts Bureau of Forestry offers information about the impacts of climate change on your forest, including opportunities to incorporate specific strategies into your forest management plan.  Learn more

The C-SIP program offers cost-share funds to implement the following climate forestry practices: timber harvest layout, legacy tree retention, tree marking, invasive plant control, and climate smart best management practices. Learn more 

The Woodland & Watershed Regeneration Pilot Program is an exciting opportunity designed to support forest regeneration, improve water quality, and enhance wildlife habitat throughout Massachusetts. This initiative is open to all municipalities in Massachusetts and private landowners with an active Forest Management Plan or Forest Stewardship Plan. This is an opportunity to contribute to the restoration and resilience of the state’s natural resources. Learn more

The Forest Pathways Pilot Program connects small-acreage and underserved forest landowners in Eastern Massachusetts with resources for sustainable land management. This program supports all landowners including the following categories: new forest landowners, landowners in high poverty areas, federally and state recognized tribes, limited-resource landowners, veterans. Learn more

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary conservation program administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).  Although typically associated with more traditional forms of agriculture, EQIP does include funding for forest non-industrial forest landowners. Eligible practices include:  

• Practice 106: Forest Management Plan
• Practice 314: Brush Management
• Practice 315: Herbaceous Weed Control
• Practice 472: Access Control
• Practice 645: Upland Wildlife Habitat
• Practice 647: Early Successional Habitat
• Practice 655: Forest Trails and Landings
• Practice 666: Forest Stand Improvement

Applications may be submitted at any time. Contact your local NRCS service center.

The MassWildlife Habitat Management Grant Program provides assistance to private and municipal owners of protected lands to enhance wildlife habitat, while promoting public access for outdoor recreation. The objectives of the Habit Grant Program are to: improve habitat(s) for game species, manage habitat(s) for Species of Greatest Conservation Need as identified in the Massachusetts State Wildlife Action Plan, and to enhance ecological communities disproportionally susceptible to climate change (fire adapted communities, riparian buffers along coldwater fisheries resources, etc.). Learn more 

The Conservation Land Tax Credit program recognizes and rewards landowners who permanently protect their land by donating a conservation restriction or the land itself to a qualified conservation organization, such as a land trust, town, or state conservation agency. The donation must permanently protect an important natural resource such as forest land that provides public benefit.  The donor(s) are provided a tax credit of 50% of the donation value, up to the $75,000 max. Donors do not have to reside in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to qualify.  Find the land protection specialist working for a land trust or state conservation agency in your town.  Learn more