Assistance

Introduction	Forest Types
Forest Characteristics	Management
Forest Contributions	Special Considerations
The Forest Plan	Assistance

FOREST MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES FOR MICHIGAN
From the Michigan Society of American Foresters

The Michigan Society of American Foresters (MSAF) represents approximately 450 professional land and resource managers within the State of Michigan. The Society's objectives are to advance the science, technology, education, and practice of forestry in Michigan and in the nation and to use the knowledge and skills of the profession to benefit the public. Our stated mission is responsible stewardship of Michigan forests while meeting critical needs of society.

Forests resources provide many benefits, including the potential for high monetary investment and returns. The management of forest lands deals with a wide range of issues. Decisions have long-term effect; an error in judgment or practice can affect stand conditions, composition, and associated resources for decades. Cost-share and property tax programs are typically administered by the Michigan DNR, MDARD, or the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service. Assistance comes in a variety of forms from different sources. Therefore, the MSAF urges forest owners to avail themselves of the many sources of expert assistance, advice, and resources available in order to manage their forested lands in a professional and socially acceptable manner. Those sources include:

Michigan Society of American Foresters – http://michiganSAF.org
Consulting Foresters - http://forestry.msu.edu/extension/extdocs/consulfor/consult.htm
Consulting Foresters – http://acf-foresters.org
Consulting Wildlife Biologists
Industrial Foresters from companies with a private lands program
Michigan Association of Conservation Districts – http:/macd.org
Michigan Department of Natural Resources - http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-30301_30505---,00.html
Michigan Forest Association – http://MichiganForests.org
Michigan Forest Pathways – http://MIforestpathways.net
Michigan Natural Features Inventory - http://mnfi.anr.msu.edu
Michigan State University County Extension Offices - http://msue.anr.msu.edu/county
Michigan State University Department of Forestry - http://www.for.msu.edu
Michigan Technological University – http://www.forest.mtu.edu
Michigan Tree Farm Program - https://www.treefarmsystem.org/michigan
Natural Resource Conservation Service - http://www.mi.nrcs.usda.gov

This website is maintained by Bill Cook, Michigan State University Extension Forest in the Upper Peninsula. Comments, questions, and suggestions are gratefully accepted.