Division of Forestry Strategic Direction
Statewide Forest Strategy 2010
Statewide Forest Assessment 2010
Forest Sustainability Framework
Statewide Forest Plan 2004
B1. Trend: Succession is changing forest composition
and potential forest products.
Comment #: 1
While the statement is basicly true, why should you address the issue in a statwide plan? "Statwide Plan" makes me think you want to do something about it. The creator gave us this diverse everchanging forest, not the DNR.
Comment #: 2
We should accommodate natural succession.
Comment #: 3
If northern Wisconsin is to make up for the lack of forests because they have been logged off in souther WI - you are making a big mistake. We live up here for the trees, the wildlife and the "Northern" experience. We do not want to turn into a barren "big tree effect" along roadsides only. We are being overwelmed as it is.
Comment #: 4
Use our own resources where we manage them wisely - other countries may not.
Comment #: 5
This is probably the natural order of change, just let it happen.
Comment #: 6
Maple is hard enough both for burning in furnaces, are for use in homes. Remember the magnificent living-dining room walls of oak veneer? Let's have more and solid oak pieces at some spots in these rooms, as in houses I know (or knew) built in 1916. I greatly admire hard-wood flooring. "adapt to use more soft hardwoods, such as red maple" - not necessary - see comments for A13.
Comment #: 7
I do not believe that species composition for economic reason outweighs forest composition for structural integrity, biodiversity and natural function of our forests. Integrity of forest ecosystems for habitat is one of the most important factors.
Comment #: 8
Let the private sector take care of these issues!
Comment #: 9
Logging should be considered less and less as a reason to have "public" forest. Public forests should be sanctuaries. Privat forests should provide forest products
Comment #: 10
There is far too much emphasis placed on timber production and tourism and not enough on bio-diversity
Comment #: 11
Not managing for aspen or marginal hardwood sites is a huge mistake many public agencies are making. Not if destructive cutting isn't addressed.
Comment #: 12
Though we can't dictate industry funciton, we can encourage adaption
Comment #: 13
I feel that nature does a pretty good job in this area
Comment #: 14
Centralizing activity and using a sharter rotation in designated areas could help ensure a preservation of the early and mid succession species. See "one continuity strategy" - included wit hthis survey.
Comment #: 15
Economics will drive the forest type not politics or a plan - changes in forest type may be controlled in govt forests.
Comment #: 16
We should learn to adapt and not fight nature.
Comment #: 17
I agree with the species shift, not with the size getting bigger with the exception being the Checuamagan F.S., Rusk Co, and Northern Highland (portions)
Comment #: 18
I think oak and sugar maple are important species for economic value timber, and hunting value
Comment #: 19
If I owned (many) a large tract(s) of forest I would require that they be run like a ? and share a profit (cash flow) occasionally. I would then require or ? for Aspen birch (pulp wood). Because I have a small holding and cash flow or profit is not a concern I am striving for mature oaks (long term) and white pine.3
Comment #: 20
Research and develop new products to accommodate the national word fiber of the area. Change will be necessary.
Comment #: 21
As long as the DNR's emphasis is on logging why be concerned over what is cut?
Comment #: 22
How to get good oak regrowth is known. It just isn't getting need because few are actually managing their woods.
Comment #: 23
Refer to metahallitus - the Finnish Forest Service. They effectively manage their forests w/ 1% land timber harvested yet comprise >4% of world timber exports.
Comment #: 24
The management of our state forests should not be market-driven, but rather should be based on the biological and ecological potential of each ecological land type. Forests should be managed so that they are sustainable - not only the yield, but the forests themselves.
Comment #: 25
Should not the successional changes that are in progress be controlled in order to attain the best possible future forest??
Comment #: 26
I'm sure the forest industry is aware of the changes but as always the general public doesn't realize what is happening and probably doesn't care.
Comment #: 27
Fewer sawmills in south WI unless we are portable which often are ineffecient develop consumption of wood prod a need!
Comment #: 28
There seems to be some contradiction here
Comment #: 29
Forest health should come ahead of aesthetics and disregard for fire safety and recreational values, whatever that may be.
Comment #: 30
Forest type changes are not the major change for industry. Human beings mind set from the metro areas where larger number are and have more politacal vote will change how the forest will be used.
Comment #: 31
Private enterprise will accommodate to this change
Comment #: 32
Very important - stop relegating these values to secondary status. You do it all the time, we are tired of it. How many times must we, the public, ask before you get the message!?
Comment #: 33
This is an absolutely vital issue
Comment #: 34
Why aren't the red and white pine mentioned? They are the original major forest trees in northern and central Wisconsin. And that is the crop that created the "lumber barons." We're not going to consider those species anymore? (The middle paragraph) doesn't even seem correct to me.
Comment #: 35
We'll adjust. Keep some aspen clear cuts and encourage birch "up north" (To dry south?)
Comment #: 36
Paper mills are switching to greater hardwood use - Example - GP - Port Edwards
Comment #: 37
Need to come up with alternatives. Stop deportation and importation of products that have a negative impact on forest/life ANYWHERE.
Comment #: 38
Southern Wisconsin must do whatever it can to protect its oak-hickory forests including landowner incentives if necessary.
Comment #: 39
See A1.
Comment #: 40
These logger should be required to use the product, not taking the cream and leaving the owner there with a mess, here in Fl. You see the loggers trucking the whole tree to the pulp mills up on hyw. 19. They are a hassard on the hyw. But they use every thing even the Pine needls ? on ?.
Comment #: 41
This is all the more reason to practice proper silvicultural practices to keep our diversity in the forest landscape. Private land owners should be made aware of this and maybe rewarded when good forestry is done. (Ex) - MFL Mgt. Plans and Tax incentives.
Comment #: 42
We will continue to adopt and use the fiber we have, just as we always have. I think that the idea of "preferred" species is more imagined then real -
Comment #: 43
We need to recycle paper, reduce dependence on excessive logging. Public owned lands should be managed for preservation and recreation.
Comment #: 44
Take public forest lands out of the timber production business, except where timber harvesting can effectively be used as a tool to achieve maximum ecological/natural/historic biodiversity. The state should not be in the timber production business.
Comment #: 45
This is natural succession - possibly linked to Global warming and associated desease. Mills will adjust as the tree composition changes - either re-tool with new species or find a new area from which to gather needed species. It will take care of itself and doesn't need a panel to study - let industry figure it out!
Comment #: 46
I don't know the natural succession should be, I must take the word of a forester. I do though see on my land where I have logged a regeneration of weed species.
Comment #: 47
What human inputs can change this trend? My own 20-30 acre wood lot is going from red oak ? maybe to hard mapke, ask. Please respond.
Comment #: 48
What about cropping of select species for fuel use? Willow, Aspen, etc.
Comment #: 49
Generally, forest industries should adapt to the availability of forest resources where located unless the industrial entity is growing its own trees on its own land.
Comment #: 50
Trends are showing that area papermills do not produce their own pulp due to cost and that the need for Aspen is not in demand as much, therefore succession into hardwoods will become the new market.
Comment #: 51
The movement towards more "climax" related species will have a large impact on many species (animals). It would not be a good thing to have huge blocks of land as maple-basswood or elm-ash-soft maple. Oak regeneration and growth in the south and clearings and aspen regeneration in the north are important.
Comment #: 52
You can fight nature and lose or work with nature and win.
Comment #: 53
I doubt if there is that much greater supply of pulp in paper mills to move. Compared to Northern WI, I don't think Southern WI has as much saw timber.
Comment #: 54
Paper production is so important that aspen should be given priority over low value hardwood forests. High value hardwood forests should also be encouraged.
Comment #: 55
Still, need to let forest areas to mature to the max, reintroduce hardwoods where they have been harvested or died. Don't see necessity of over-planting cut-over areas into pine plantations; need more biodiversity. Need to save some old growth and let some mature to old growth in all areas.
Comment #: 56
An industry problem more than a public problem. Wouldn't over emphasize this except regarding oak woods and oak savannahs.
Comment #: 57
Don't think we should manage overall forests for pulp/paper - we should in fact decrease our dependence on paper products - very much a source of pollution and waste! Saw timber use and management ok - a better alternative.
Comment #: 58
Again, forest management techniques such as clear cutting can change the age and species compostion.
Comment #: 59
If you don't include discussion of related industry - plan will not be acceptable to those who work in those industries.
Comment #: 60
just let it be
Comment #: 61
Redevelop more hardwood forest areas to offset the current trend.
Comment #: 62
Again, let the market place determine compositions.
Comment #: 63
For state and county owned forest - this needs to be addressed. But for private lands, this should not be done by DNR
Comment #: 64
I believe something should be done to encourage oak but I do not know enough about the northern forests to comment.
Comment #: 65
A renewable resource
Comment #: 66
We may be able to rpevent some of this through management. (Ex. Fire, harvesting, etc)
Comment #: 67
The fore should have a purpose now as well as 50 yrs. From now - forest aesthetics with buffer zones shold be addressed.
Comment #: 68
Deer are
Comment #: 69
Select significant areas to be managed for eventual old growth. Keep harvesting planted pine plantations
Comment #: 70
Should be addressed but the decline in aspen-birch is not necessarily bad. The increase in aspen/birch can be viewed as a "temporary" thing that occurred following the big logging era and human disturbances. So be it to revert back to more natural timber types - the industry will just have to adapt. And we certainly don't need to worry about maintaining early succession forests for wildlife (deer) - - deer are now a nuisance. In southern WI, we do need to study the lost of oak-hickory. What species "should" ecologically be here?
Comment #: 71
Industry will adopt to the times and conditions. The forest plan should address environment and social issues to a greater degree than economic.
Comment #: 72
The conifer products may be the leader in determining forest industry vitality
Comment #: 73
We need to maintain or increase our early successional forest types.
Comment #: 74
The limatic chagnes occuring in Wisconsin gives doubt as to what was considred a good profitable tree 60 years ago. And what today is the profitable tree.
Comment #: 75
This change will take care of itself.
Comment #: 76
"Sawmills" and veneer mills When aspen wood lots are clear-cut regeneration follows and within 20 to 25 years one receives another crop and serve as pulp and lumber for skids.
Comment #: 77
The general public does not realize that our forests are in a constant state of renewal. These "tree huggers" think that when a tree is harvested it is gone forever. They don't realize that our trees are a crop that should be harvested when mature or the trees need to be thinned out with a select cutting a various stages of maturity.
Comment #: 78
It seems that there is some confusion in product distribution. A majority of pulpwood for the papermills in southern and central Wisconsin comes from northern Wisconsin.
Comment #: 79
I have 40 acres in Adams County. 45 years ago we planted 60,000 Norway/Red Pine. The treas are now about 15" (chest high) in diameter and ready to harvest mostly as saw boldts. They are seeding themselves and according to y/p not further planting will be necessary.
Comment #: 80
Why do you have "strongly agree" at both ends of the spectrum? It leaves the impression that you want that answer.
Comment #: 81
Aspen yields are also going to decline, and underutilized hardwoods resource will likely fill this shortfall
Comment #: 82
We're growing more and more timber every year. I think it will be 50+ years down the road before we start seeing major impacts from growing timber to a larger size before it's harvested. Additionally, the forests will still have to be managed throughout their life and there will still be a supply of smaller trees available for market through selective thinnings throughout the life of the stand.
Comment #: 83
Pulp is good, but not a t the expense of higher value timber.
Comment #: 84
Part of this discussion should again be the need to maintain early successional species through management. In addition, there has been a great deal of tree planting in the last 10 to 15 years, with many of these being oak. This should be mentioned as well.
Comment #: 85
Affects habitat, social uses, and economic interests for the long term across WI.
Comment #: 86
I suggest we look at what we need to protect on the landscape (diversity and forests for future generations) and then work back from there to determine how best to manage and for what.
Comment #: 87
Enhancing biodiversity should be one of the goals of the plan. This requires a balance of a variety of management goals. Though aspen pulp cutting appears to be giving way to pine pulp cutting, especially on many industrial forest lands, other benefits, both ecological and economic, need to be considered, other than just fast growth and cut pulp management. For example, aspen benefits social economics by providing valuable habitat to grouse, deer, and elk. These species enhance local economics by attracting hunters and wildlife viewers who also bolster the local economy in more ways than red or jack pine pulp stands would. However, because these management decisions are being made on private industrial forest lands DNR's ability to influence these management decisions are complicated. Incentives to promote broader forest management goals need to be developed, especially in the context of private lands management.
Comment #: 88
It should be mentioned and explained to fully explain natural and man-caused conversion to shade tolerant timber types. The transition to using other woods is just a result of the materials in the area. I don't necessarily see the impact on the mills as a serious detriment.
Comment #: 89
If forests are managed in an ecologically sound fashion, considering habitat types, etc., what is the relevancy of this trend to forest managers?
Comment #: 90
True. The paper mills already see the southern forest of WI as good place to get hardwood pulp. As for the consolidation of sawmills in the south, rethink this issue. These mills are fiercely independent. They aren't going to with or consolidate they are going to try to run the competition out of business.
Comment #: 91
I believe that moving more forest lands into management and timber production and incentives to persuade private landowners from "cut and slash" techniques will create a more sustainable supply of quality sawtimber
Comment #: 92
Realistically, the plan has to address the economic impacts of any recommendations, even those guided by biodiversity concerns.
Comment #: 93
I think we need to look at our logging plan.
Comment #: 94
Succession Again.
Comment #: 95
Succession Again.
Comment #: 96
Wisconsin's forests should be managed to benefit all users. But, no one user-group should be the top priority in managing the state's forests. Management should not be based on the desires of the forest products industry, but must include the needs of the tourism/recreation industry and the needs of the forest as a healthy resource.
Comment #: 97
Need to distinguish forests as "wood cropland" and "wild forests"-I think the goals are different.
Comment #: 98
It should be remembered that succession is natural and that the forests are returning to the state they were in before they were cut.
Comment #: 99
Are we managing for biodiversity and integration of different resource management disciplines, or are we managing for profit...an important decision, and you can't have both...
Comment #: 100
The mills have to change and grow with the forests they live off of.
Comment #: 101
The Menominee Reservation is living proof that old growth forests are a viable alternative to even-aged stands with regard to timber production.
Comment #: 102
The Menominee Reservation is living proof that old growth forests are a viable alternative to even-aged stands with regard to timber production.
Comment #: 103
Address this issue in combination with A-1.
Comment #: 104
Limit access timber companies have to public forests.
Comment #: 105
Timber industry is important in WI. and I feel it should be of high priority.
Comment #: 106
Regeneration of oak through clear cutting and direct seeding is another option to reverse the transition.
Comment #: 107
This sounds important, but I don't like that it sounds like we will manage as a way to subsidize a private industry.
Comment #: 108
Yes, but at an awareness level note a management level
Comment #: 109
I'm not clear on the implications of
consolidation? My sense of it is that
it is better to keep mills local to better
serve the economic base of the remote, rural,
and least-populated areas. One would hope that
more care would be shown by those that live
in the area but this is not always the case!
Comment #: 110
I am very concerned that some of the intensive oak logging in southern Wisconsin may not be sustainable. Economic trends should not be allowed to "liquidate" an ecologically indispensible component of southern Wisconsin's forests. The reduced or absent acorn mast could disrupt game and nongame species populations. This could harm tourism.
Comment #: 111
I am very concerned that some of the intensive oak logging in southern Wisconsin may not be sustainable. Economic trends should not be allowed to "liquidate" an ecologically indispensible component of southern Wisconsin's forests. The reduced or absent acorn mast could disrupt game and nongame species populations. This could harm tourism.
Comment #: 112
As I mentioned before, we need to accept that succession does happen and not fight it as a natural process.
Comment #: 113
Should be included with a short discussion
on the national trend of fewer hardwoods.
Comment #: 114
This change in composition is very important to keep track of - especially the increasing ash(green) component.
Comment #: 115
This change in composition is very important to keep track of - especially the increasing ash(green) component.
Comment #: 116
This change in composition is very important to keep track of - especially the increasing ash(green) component.
Comment #: 117
increased production through forest managment
Comment #: 118
The DNR should ensure that logging is sustainable in terms of harvest never exceeding growth, and no net reduction in forest health. This standard is not being met in some places and this is fundamentally wrong.
Comment #: 119
Not a priority, as state forests provide v.little of the total sawtimber & pulp.
Comment #: 120
I think that it is good that the industries can produce more.
Comment #: 121
I don't know much about the forestry business but I would think that if soft hardwoods are good for pulp and sawlogs they must be more valuable than aspen, which can only be used for pulp. Maybe there is an economic argument that can be made for allowing our forest to gradually revert back to mature hardwoods etc. Maybe we can start to see ourselves as a source of beautiful furniture raw material instead of toilet paper raw material.
Comment #: 122
Acknowledgement of this process and education for forest industries should be a priority.
Comment #: 123
DNR should manage forests for its primary mission - for ecological, biological and sustainable reasons. This is a tough trend to deal with, but perhaps the industry should be the one that has to change and adapt rather than the DNR's management strategies.
Comment #: 124
Try to make beter use of recycling materials, tires, newspapers, etc.
Last Revised: Monday July 30 2007
RSS