1995 Forest Health Highlights - Michigan

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1995 Forest Health Highlights

Michigan

The Resource

Forests comprise 53% of the land area of the state. These forests are a critical component of Michigan’s

economy, for the products they provide, and the recreational opportunities they make available.

Michigan’s forests contribute to clean air and water, and reduce soil erosion. For these and other reasons,

maintaining healthy forests is important.

Forestry related industries and manufacturing employ about 134,000 people statewide with an annual

payroll of $913 million. The overall contribution of the forest resource exceeds $3.2 billion.

Special Issues

Generally, our forests are quite healthy and productive. Problem areas do occur in forest types that are at

an age when more volume is lost to disease and decay than is added by annual growth. This is especially

true in "even aged" stands.

Forest stressors such as drought, storms, late spring frosts, diseases and insects, together with the old age

of various forest types continue to play a significant role in shaping Michigan's forests.

Increased risk of mortality occurs when stands become over mature. This is especially true when large

contiguous areas become over mature at the same time. Forest stressors add to declines, sometimes

aggravating an already difficult situation to manage. Foresters are attempting to diversify the age class

distribution to reduce this risk.

Some forest types show significant signs of decline, while most appear healthy and productive. Northern

pin oak in the northern lower peninsula is experiencing mortality and dieback due to the combined

effects of the drought of the late 1980's and old age. These symptoms first began to appear in the early

1990's. Oaks growing on the better sites are, for the most part, healthy and vigorous.

The late 1980's drought also resulted in large amounts of mortality and dieback in white birch. Surviving

trees are showing significant signs of recovery, especially on richer, less disturbed sites. However, birch

continues to be a very difficult species to regenerate.

On the other hand, northern hardwood, a type dominated by sugar maple, continues to grow, is very
1995 Forest Health Highlights - Michigan

file:///X|/netsite-docs/lps32615/1995%20Forest%20Health%20Highlights%20-%20Michigan.html[4/2/2015 11:22:00 AM]

healthy, and contributes significantly to Michigan's overall forest health.

Severe damage was caused by downdraft winds during storms that occurred state wide on July 13. Trees

were uprooted and branches were broken over a wide area. The winter of 1995, however, was unusually

mild.

Other Issues

Gypsy moth defoliated 85,907 acres in 16 counties. This is a slight

reduction from 1994 levels; however, activity is occurring in a few

more counties. More defoliation is expected in 1996.

Larch casebearer defoliated 119,986 acres of tamarack from the

central UP to Gaylord. This was the first year of an outbreak and

we do not expect any long lasting effects.

Oak leaf skeletonizer, cherry scallop shell moth and various

oakworm species caused problems for many people. Generally,

Michigan forests are not greatly effected by these pests. 

Regional Surveys

Forest Health Monitoring - Plots established the previous year to

monitor the health of Michigan's forests, were remeasured in 1995. This

is a part of a nationwide Forest Health Monitoring Program in partnership

with the Environmental Protection Agency and the US Forest Service and

the University of Michigan.

The motivation to monitor the health of forested ecosystems grew out of

the concern over the potential effects of air pollutants, insects, diseases,

and other stressors. Also, concern over the potential effects of global

climate changes to the composition and stability of forests was a

motivating factor. The monitoring program includes a network of

permanent plots and surveys of forest pests and other stressors. In

Michigan, there are 247 plots, of which 133 are forested. In addition,

many surveys are conducted to supplement this information. This monitoring will be most useful to

measure change over an extended period.

The North American Maple Project - Michigan continues to participate in this international project

designed to evaluate the health of sugar maple forests in North America. Results from the 18 plots in

Michigan, and those from other participating states and Canada, indicate that regionally, sugar maple

health has been improving since the program’s inception in 1988. This is based primarily on crown

condition of measured trees.

Michigan is also participating in a gypsy moth slow the spread pilot project. This

project is being conducted in four states in cooperation with the USDA Forest

Service. The project area is located in the Upper Peninsula. The objective of the

project is to demonstrate that new and current technology can slow the rate at

which gypsy moth populations are currently spreading. Participating agencies

involved in the Michigan project include the Michigan Department of Agriculture,

Department of Natural Resources, Michigan State University, and USDA Forest
1995 Forest Health Highlights - Michigan

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Service Hiawatha National Forest and NA State and Private Forestry. Additional

information on this program can be obtained on the internet:

http://www.ent.msu.edu/esal/sts/

For more information contact 

Gerald

Thiede, State

Forester 

MI DNR

Forestry

Division 

P.O. Box

30028 

Lansing, MI

48904 

(517) 373-

1275

Forest

Health

Protection 

USDA

Forest

Service 

1992

Folwell

Avenue 

St. Paul,

MN 55108 

(612) 649-

5261

Northeastern Area

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