Introduction

Michigan forests have always been important to the quality of life for Michigan citizens, but our demands on forests continue to grow and to change.  To maintain our quality of life, the way we manage our forests will also need to change.  The Michigan Society of American Foresters (MSAF) offers this publication of forest management guidelines to help readers better understand forest management in Michigan.

These forest management guidelines recognize the renewable nature of forests and the influence of forest management practices on the many uses of the forests including timber, water, recreation, wildlife, visual quality, and energy.  Because of the diversity of forest conditions, values, and ownerships, no set of management guidelines can cover all situations.  Forest owner and professional judgment must combine scientific knowledge and local conditions to determine management practices for a particular property.  These guidelines can help.

The goal of these guidelines is to provide for conservation and stewardship of all forest lands in Michigan.  The MSAF challenges landowners, forest managers, forest industries, and timber harvesting contractors to follow these guidelines.  They provide a common-sense approach to better manage the forest lands of the state.  At the end of this document are listed a number of organizations that can assist forest owners with their management needs. 

Management Guidelines:  Applicable to Public & Private Forest Land

These guidelines are written to apply to all forest land ownerships in Michigan.  They define a set of considerations that, when taken as a whole, constitute a framework of advice, encouragement, and obligation appropriate for the time and place for which they are written.

The guidelines represent neither a minimum set of requirements that applies in all situations, nor a guarantee that, if applied, all important considerations and obligations will be met.  They are not intended as a complete forest management instruction manual for foresters, landowners, or the public.

Therefore, these guidelines must be supplemented with knowledge of local conditions, a familiarity with forest ecology and management, recognition of the objectives and constraints of individual forest owners, and compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.  To ensure that these factors are carefully weighed, the advice of trained, experienced, and thoughtful professional foresters and other resource managers is available and should be sought and considered.

Characteristics of Michigan's Forests
Contributions of Michigan's Forests
The Importance of a Forest Management Plan
Michigan Forest Types and Their Ecology
Forest Management
Special Management Considerations
Finding Assistance

Paper copies are available from the MSAF by contacting one of the following people:
  Bill Cook (Escanaba) at cookwi@msu.edu
  Georgia Peterson (East Lansing) at petersog@msu.edu