North Central Research Station News Release

For Immediate Release: June 7, 2000 
Contact: Tim Swedberg
651-649-5257 


Stand Up and Be Counted
Sixth Michigan Statewide Forest Inventory Begins

Manistique, Mich. - Most people are aware of the US Census, but did you know that trees also get counted on a regular basis? The USDA Forest Service North Central Research Station, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Hiawatha, Huron-Manistee, and Ottawa National Forests, is beginning the 6th inventory of Michigan's public and private forests. Previous forest inventories were completed in 1935,1955,1966,1980, and 1993. 

"This inventory of Michigan's forests is the beginning of an annual forest inventory," stated Dennis May, Program Manager for Forest Inventory and Analysis. "There is a great need for accurate information on forest growth, health, and mortality. This marks our first effort in Michigan to provide an annual forest report plus a comprehensive report every 5 years."

Over 18,000 inventory plots are located approximately every 2 miles throughout Michigan on both private and public lands. It takes about 8 hours to perform all the measurements on a typical plot. Tree measurements such as height and trunk diameter are recorded on each 1-acre plot. Foresters working from field offices in L'Anse, Manistique, Gaylord, and Mt. Pleasant will visit 20% of the plots each year.

As forests grow and change, new inventory information is needed by forest owners, land managers, forest industries, and public agencies to properly use, protect, and manage forest resources. The data will be analyzed and estimates of current forest area, timber volume, growth, mortality, health, ownership category, and land-use will be published.

The most recent inventory revealed that Michigan had 1 million more acres of forestland than recorded in 1980. In all, 19.3 million acres of forestland cover 53% of the state's total land area.

Foresters make every attempt to contact landowners for permission to measure trees on their property. Sometimes, the only notification is by driving up a road and knocking on the door. "We especially want to thank landowners for their continued support of the inventory, without their help an accurate picture of our forests would be very difficult," May concluded. 

For further information please contact:
Program Manager, Forest Inventory and Analysis
1992 Folwell Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108
Phone: (651) 649 - 5134
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