The state is updating its 10-year plan that oversees the management of Michigan's four million acres of state forest.
Under the draft plan, the state proposes harvesting around 50,000 acres for timber every year over the next decade. The plan also includes an inventory of natural resources within state forests like different tree species and wildlife.
Dan Heckman led the planning process with the forest resource division with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. In a September webinar, he said sustainability is a key part of the draft plan.
"It's not just about sustained yield or being able to cut just as much wood this year as next year," Heckman said. "Sustainability also means you have a forest system that can withstand change over time."
In addition to climate change, David Price, a forest planner with the DNR, said emerging threats to the state's forests have added management challenges.
"The increased prevalence of invasive species have had a huge impact upon many of our forest systems," Price said. "We have the emerald ash borer ... beech bark disease ... now we have hemlock woolly adelgid."
The deadline to submit public comment on the plan has recently been extended to Dec. 31. See the full 1,776-page document on the DNR's website.
Editor's note: The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is a sponsor of WCMU. We report on them as we do with any other organization.
