The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way Michigan foresters work this summer.
Foresters typically work in the woods, where they manage the state’s 19.3 million acres of forest land.
Michigan DNR forest inventory and planning specialist for the western Lower Peninsula Derek Cross said this year was delayed.
“There was a big delay in that with the stay home stay safe orders,” Cross said. “Employees were not able to get out into the field and do their work to help manage timber and other things.”
The delay has impacted the planning process.
“The impact would be on the foresters plan of work and revenue generated by timber sales that the foresters set up,” Cross said. “For the planning process, the foresters take inventory on 10 percent of the forest every year and a lot of that time is spent out in the woods on the ground.”
Cross said foresters are working out of their homes, meaning they are not able to hold face-to-face meetings like normal, which has also impacted the planning process.
He said the different departments within the DNR work together on the planning process and how things will be impacted.
“All those meetings had to be held virtually this year,” Cross said. “It’s just a different way of doing things.”
Foresters are back out in the field surveying forests for future improvements.