Mich. officials hosting meetings on forest management

Lansing – Michigan officials are meeting with the public this fall to take suggestions on managing state-owned forest lands.

The Department of Natural Resources says careful planning is needed to keep Michigan’s 4 million acres of state forest land healthy.

The agency makes final plans for each forest management unit two years in advance of when management activities such as prescribed burns, timber harvests or tree thinning will take place.

Recommendations for 2020 are being presented at open houses within those units hosted by DNR foresters, wildlife biologists and other resource professionals.

The next meeting is Wednesday in Ishpeming. Others are planned for October in Crystal Falls, Shingleton, Newberry and Grayling.