The forest is filled with animals, plants, clean water, protected soils, and a zillion ways to have fun. Michigan forest industry has changed, too. We still have hundreds of loggers and the forest industry is a major Michigan business, worth over nine billion dollars. But today, sustainable forestry is the name of the game. Not only is the wood supply continuing to increase, but foresters are concerned about more than just wood.
Foresters consider many things when deciding what to do with a piece of forest.
Wildlife habitat, water protection, recreation, how timber sales look, biodiversity, and fire protection are some of the considerations. Most important, foresters are concerned about regeneration and making sure our forests stay healthy and productive. Forests are part of the ecosystem landscape and are managed with the big picture in mind. Forest management systems have been developed over the last 75 years that take into account a lot of science and biology. These systems also account for changes in the way the public views land and forests.