Nearly 90% of Connecticut’s forest land is privately owned. These private owners include water companies, land trusts and individuals. Connecticut’s Public Act 490, established in 1963, allows privately owned forest land to be assessed at a low value for property tax purposes, encouraging preservation of the forest.

Approximately 75 properties in Connecticut totaling about 14,000 acres are still classified under this law, guaranteed a tax rate of no more than 10 mills.

Read the Report on the Ten Mill Program and the HB 6263 Summary for details of the state legislation to encourage forest preservation.

Connecticut developed a Statewide Forest Resource Plan in 2004. A Forest Resource Assessment and Strategy report was developed in 2010, in compliance with federal regulations. Three basic themes guide the state’s current strategies: conserving working forest landscapes; protecting forests from harm; and enhancing public benefits from trees and forests.