290C.01 PURPOSE. It is the policy of this state to promote sustainable forest resource management on the state’s public and private lands. The state’s private forests comprise approximately one-half of the state forest land resources. These forests play a critical role in protecting water quality and soil resources, and provide extensive wildlife habitat, natural carbon […]
290C.02 DEFINITIONS. Subdivision 1. Application. When used in sections 290C.01 to 290C.13, the terms in this section have the meanings given them. Subd. 2. Approved plan writers. “Approved plan writers” are natural resource professionals who are self-employed, employed by private companies or individuals, nonprofit organizations, local units of government, or public agencies, and who are […]
290C.03 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. (a) Land may be enrolled in the sustainable forest incentive program under this chapter if all of the following conditions are met: (1) the land consists of at least 20 contiguous acres and at least 50 percent of the land must meet the definition of forest land in section 88.01, subdivision 7, […]
290C.04 APPLICATIONS. (a) A landowner may apply to enroll forest land for the sustainable forest incentive program under this chapter. The claimant must complete, sign, and submit an application to the commissioner by October 31 in order for the land to become eligible beginning in the next year. The application shall be on a form […]
290C.05 ANNUAL CERTIFICATION AND MONITORING. (a) On or before May 15 of each year, beginning with the year after the original claimant has received an approved application, the commissioner shall send each claimant enrolled under the sustainable forest incentive program a certification form. For purposes of this section, the claimant is the current property owner […]
290C.055 LENGTH OF COVENANT. (a) Claimants enrolling any land that is subject to a conservation easement funded under section 97A.056 or a comparable permanent easement conveyed to a governmental or nonprofit entity must enroll their land under a covenant with a minimum duration of eight years. All other claimants may choose to enroll their land […]
290C.06 CALCULATION OF AVERAGE ESTIMATED MARKET VALUE; MANAGED FOREST LAND. The commissioner shall annually calculate a statewide average estimated market value per acre for class 2c managed forest land under section 273.13, subdivision 23. History: 1Sp2001 c 5 art 8 s 10; 2009 c 88 art 10 s 15
290C.07 CALCULATION OF INCENTIVE PAYMENT. (a) An approved claimant under the sustainable forest incentive program is eligible to receive an annual payment for each acre of enrolled land, excluding any acre improved with a paved trail under easement, lease, or terminable license to the state of Minnesota or a political subdivision. The payment shall equal […]
290C.08 ANNUAL INCENTIVE PAYMENT; APPROPRIATION. Subdivision 1. Annual payment. An incentive payment for each acre of enrolled land will be made annually to each claimant in the amount determined under section 290C.07. By September 15 of each year, the commissioner of natural resources must certify to the commissioner the lands eligible for payment. The incentive […]
290C.09 REMOVAL FOR PROPERTY TAX DELINQUENCY. The commissioner shall immediately remove any land enrolled in the sustainable forest incentive program for which taxes are determined to be delinquent as provided in chapter 279 and shall notify the claimant of such action. Lands terminated from the sustainable forest incentive program under this section are not entitled […]
290C.10 WITHDRAWAL PROCEDURES. (a) The current owner of land enrolled under the sustainable forest incentive program for a minimum of one-half the number of years of the covenant’s minimum duration may notify the commissioner of the intent to terminate enrollment. Within 90 days of receipt of notice to terminate enrollment, the commissioner shall inform the […]
290C.101 TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP. Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given. (b) “New owner” means a prospective purchaser or grantee. (c) “Owner” means a grantor or seller. Subd. 2. Notification to commissioner. (a) An owner must notify the commissioner if the owner transfers any or all […]
290C.11 PENALTIES FOR REMOVAL. (a) If the commissioner determines that land enrolled in the sustainable forest incentive program is in violation of the conditions for enrollment as specified in section 290C.03, or upon notification by the commissioner of natural resources that land enrolled is in violation of the conditions for enrollment, the commissioner shall notify […]
290C.12 DEATH OF CLAIMANT. Within one year after the death of the claimant, the claimant’s heir, devisee, or estate must either: (1) notify the commissioner of election to terminate enrollment in the sustainable forest incentive program; or (2) make an application under this chapter to continue enrollment of the land in the program. Upon notification […]
290C.13 APPEALS. Subdivision 1. Claimant right to reconsideration. A claimant may obtain reconsideration by the commissioner of a determination removing enrolled land from the sustainable forest incentive program, a determination denying an application to enroll land in the program, or a denial of part or all of an incentive payment by filing an administrative appeal […]
