Michigan's temperate forests are an abundant, diverse, healthy, productive and expanding asset providing a multitude of benefits to its citizens. These benefits include habitat for both flora and fauna, recreational and sightseeing opportunities, filtration for air and water quality, and timber for societal consumption. Economic benefits to our state's economy are significant. Over $12 billion of value added and over 150,000 jobs are annually supported statewide through forest-based industries and tourism/recreation. These forests contribute significantly towards quality of life values shared by both residents and nonresidents of our state.

The 1993 completion of Michigan's fifth statewide forest inventory since 1935, conducted in collaboration with the United States Forest Service - North Central Forest Experiment Station, provides essential data to assess statewide forest conditions. Forest stewardship policy alternatives are currently being discussed by broad representative interests to continue to improve forest health. These collective efforts will help ensure Michigan's forests continue to be healthy and productive while providing a multitude of sustainable benefits.

Forest Acreage Increases

Michigan's forests are extensive, covering more than half of its land base. They are located predominately in the northern two thirds of the state. Forestland acreage totals 19.3 million acres, a 5% increase since 1980. Forestland classified as timberland must meet minimum timber productivity standards. This timberland acreage (18.6 million acres) is the fifth largest in the United States, exceeded only by the states of Georgia, Oregon, Alabama, and North Carolina. Timberland acreage has increased 7% since 1980.

Active forest management and protection activities have resulted in a maturing forest resource, increasing in both tree size and age. Sawtimber sized tree stands now comprise 46% of the timberland acreage; poletimber and seedling/sapling tree stands comprise 30% and 24% respectively of the timberland acreage.

The temperate forests of Michigan contain a rich and diverse mix of tree species in an equally diverse forest type mix. The hardwood (broadleaf deciduous) forest types that comprise 75% of the total timberland acreage base include maple-beech-birch, aspen-birch, oak-hickory, and elm-ash-soft maple. Principal softwood (coniferous) forest types include red-white-jack pine, spruce-fir, and northern white cedar.