Woodlot Management
A plan for your forest. A vision for your land.
Every woodlot is different—and so is every landowner’s vision for their property. A Woodlot Management Plan provides a practical roadmap for managing your forest today while planning for its future.
A management plan brings together information about your woodland, your goals, and the management activities that can help you achieve them. It can help you make informed decisions about your property, prioritize projects, and establish a clear direction for the years ahead.
What We Offer
Through the WAA, woodlot owners have access to a clear management plan structure, supported by a committee approval process.
Benefits of a Woodlot Management Plan
Having an approved woodlot management plan can support a woodlot owner’s application for agricultural-use assessment, where the property meets the applicable provincial and municipal requirements. Under Alberta’s assessment legislation, eligible woodlots may qualify for agricultural-use assessment when the land is being used for the production of timber primarily marketed as whole logs, seed cones, or Christmas trees. Because agricultural-use assessments can be lower than market-value assessments, qualifying properties may see a reduction in property taxes.
An approved management plan can provide useful documentation that a woodlot is actively and purposefully managed for timber production, but plan approval does not automatically change a property’s assessment or guarantee a reduction in property taxes. The final assessment is determined by the applicable municipality and depends on factors such as the property’s use, condition, documentation, and current provincial requirements.
Beyond the potential financial benefits, a management plan provides a practical framework for managing your woodlot sustainably, helping keep your forest healthy and productive for generations of your family to enjoy.
Plan approval through the Woodlot Association of Alberta costs $500. This includes a management plan template with detailed notes and instructions for completing it, as well as guidance from our review board on your woodlot management.
