What goes into placing an Easement on your woodlot?

Woodland stewards who wish to preserve their land as a working forest, safeguarding their stewardship legacy and goals for future generations, can enter an Easement Agreement.

Becoming a woodland steward with NSWWT is a collaborative process. We work alongside you to build a relationship and understand your vision for your woodland before entering into an Easement Agreement. While every property is unique, we provide a clear, supportive process to guide you each step of the way.

Woodland Steward Benefits

Icon of a document with lines representing text, inside a white circle on a gray background.

  • ▶ NSWWT works with you to develop a unique Working Forest Community Easement tailored to your property

Outline of a pine tree inside a circle, with a mountain shape behind the tree

  • ▶ By donating or selling your land to NSWWT, you help protect forests in perpetuity while ensuring your property supports biodiversity, ecological forestry, and public benefit.

Green background with a white outline of a hand holding a small plant with two leaves, enclosed in a circle.

  • ▶ Stewardship (management) Plans tailored to your vision for your land, renewed by NSWWT every 10 years

    ▶ Expert advice and consultations with forest professionals

    ▶ Support and resources to help you achieve your stewardship goals

    ▶ Long-term peace of mind that your woodlot will be managed considering your goals and objectives

Icon of a young plant with two leaves sprouting from a patch of soil, enclosed in a circle.

  • ▶ NSWWT aggregates smaller properties in order to access the voluntary carbon market. This allows us to cover the costs for landowner support and long-term property stewardship, including management planning, resources, and annual monitoring.

Join our team of dedicated land stewards across the province

NSWWT land stewards share our commitment to sustainable forestry and conservation.

A smiling elderly woman and man standing in a snowy forest, with the woman holding trekking poles, both dressed warmly and wearing hats.
Two older adults outdoors, a man and a woman, standing in a field with trees showing fall foliage in the background, taking a selfie.
A smiling man with long hair, a beard, and a brown beanie, and a smiling woman with short hair and gold earrings, taking a selfie outdoors with trees in the background.
Join Us

The ideal NSWWT land steward has a property that includes the following:

Over 200 forested acres, or at least 100 acres within 20km of existing Easement properties (contact us to learn more

Forest comprised of 50% or more mature forest (over 50 years)

Either managed or natural state

Presence of high conservation values or special habitat features

Regular boundary line maintenance or willingness to have property surveyed

Not sure if you qualify? Reach out to us. We assess properties on a case-by-case basis, and we are happy to discuss your land stewardship goals and explore whether an Easement with NSWWT is the right fit for you.

What does the process look like?

Book a Call Now
A step-by-step process diagram for land boundary or property assessment and management, with ten numbered steps including initial assessment, site visit, boundary maintenance, land zoning, and ongoing monitoring.

NSWWT’s responsibilities as the Easement holder:

  • Provide woodland stewards with FSC certified Stewardship Plan and facilitate a collaborative renewal process every 10 years

  • Complete annual monitoring, and support stewardship and restoration efforts.

  • Inventory carbon sequestration on a 5-year basis.

  • Support and educate future woodland stewards on terms within the Easement.

  • Provide woodland stewards with research and educational opportunities.

  • Uphold the terms of the Easement and enforce infractions.

  • Manage endowment fund to ensure sustainability and longevity

Land steward’s responsibilities:

  • Obtain legal counsel to review Easement documents.

  • Complete regular boundary line maintenance.

  • Follow recommendations in the approved Stewardship Plan.

  • Notify NSWWT of any natural disturbances on the property.

  • Notify NSWWT before implementing any restricted activities.

  • Notify NSWWT when the land is listed for sale or changes hands.

A foggy landscape with a line of tall pine trees, a grassy field, and a body of water in the foreground.

Once NSWWT and the landowner enter into an Easement each party agrees to steward the property in perpetuity.