Sustainable Forest Incentive Act (SFIA)

The Sustainable Forest Incentive Act (SFIA) provides annual incentive payments to encourage private landowners to keep their wooded areas undeveloped.

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Private landowners can receive a payment for each acre of qualifying forest land they enroll in SFIA. In return, enrollees agree not to develop their land and to follow an active woodland management plan for a minimum of either 8, 20, or 50 years, depending on the covenant set with the parcel.  In order to enroll in the SFIA program, property owners must have a current Woodland Stewardship Plan.  Cass SWCD can reimburse up to 75% of plan writing cost if private land owners enroll in the SFIA program.  Contact the Cass SWCD for information on Woodland Stewardship Plan Writing or SFIA enrollment.