Enhance Your Land Stewardship

The MFTIP offers significant property tax reductions to landowners who actively manage their forests sustainably. To qualify, participants must adhere to a government-approved Managed Forest Plan that demonstrates their commitment to responsible stewardship. 

Spore & Lore's Standard and/or Bushwhacking Excursions complement Forest Management Plans to help landowners meet the MFTIP requirements by:

• Monitoring and Reporting:
  As part of our Excursions, we observe and record details about the area’s flora and fauna, providing valuable insights into the forest’s ecological health. This data can support your reporting requirements under the Managed Forest Plan.

• Maintaining Forest Health:
  Spore & Lore's Excursions offer a unique opportunity to monitor fungal activity and provide feedback on species that impact woodlot health. By harvesting fruiting bodies of harmful fungi like Armillaria or Ganoderma, we can help reduce the inoculum load and limit their spread to other trees.

• Reinforcing Ecological Balance:
  Our Excursions help support fungal biodiversity by harvesting aggressive species that might otherwise outcompete others, fostering a healthier and more balanced ecosystem in the woodlot.
  

• Encouraging Awareness and Education:
  Hosting Spore & Lore Excursions demonstrates your active engagement with sustainable forest management. It reinforces your commitment to MFTIP’s principles and showcases your leadership in responsible land use.

• Promoting Forest Stewardship:
  Our Excursions emphasize sustainable foraging practices, species identification, and ecological education, highlighting your dedication to preserving and enhancing the health of your woodlot.

• Minimizing Environmental Impact:
  Spore & Lore is committed to protecting the natural areas we explore by carefully rotating Excursion locations throughout the season. Partnering with us provides additional sites for education and fostering respect for nature while helping to prevent overuse, soil compaction, and other negative effects of repeated visits to the same areas. Together, we can promote sustainable appreciation of these wild spaces.

The CLTIP provides a 100% property tax exemption for lands with significant natural heritage features, such as endangered species habitats, wetlands, or areas of scientific interest. 

Spore & Lore's Standard Excursions align perfectly with these conservation goals and can complement your efforts to meet CLTIP criteria by:

• Showcasing Conservation Efforts:
  Our Excursions focus on the ecological importance of your property, highlighting its value as a protected natural area. By educating participants about conservation, we showcase your dedication to preserving these vital ecosystems and encourage broader support for environmental stewardship.

• Promoting Natural Heritage Awareness:
  Hosting Spore & Lore Excursions educates participants about the significance of your property’s natural features, such as endangered species habitats and wetlands. By raising awareness of these ecological treasures, our excursions align with CLTIP’s mission to protect and preserve natural heritage.

• Encouraging Habitat Preservation:
  Through our teachings, we emphasize the importance of safeguarding sensitive areas and the interconnectedness of ecosystems. This reinforces your commitment to conservation and highlights the value of preserving fragile habitats.

• Supporting Citizen Science:
  During Excursions, we observe and document wildlife, plant species, and fungal activity on your property. This data can provide valuable insights into the land’s ecological health and assist you in monitoring its status without engaging in disruptive activities.

• Enabling Non-Intrusive Learning:
  Our Standard Excursions focus on observation and education rather than foraging or extraction. Limited specimens may be gathered temporarily for teaching purposes, but we ensure the land remains undisturbed while still serving as an impactful learning environment.

• Inspiring Conservation Advocacy:
  By immersing participants in the natural beauty and ecological significance of your property, our Excursions inspire them to become advocates for conservation. This creates a ripple effect that supports broader environmental goals and encourages the protection of similar spaces.

• Fostering Community Engagement:
  Our Excursions engage the community with your property’s natural heritage, fostering goodwill and collective efforts to protect such spaces. Hosting Spore & Lore Excursions positions you as a leader in conservation and a key steward of the area’s natural legacy.

• Minimizing Environmental Impact:
  To protect the land, we rotate Excursion locations throughout the season to prevent overuse, soil compaction, and other impacts associated with repeated visits to the same areas. This ensures that sensitive habitats remain preserved while allowing us to educate participants effectively.