Wisconsin Forest Management Guidelines

The Wisconsin Forest Management Guidelines (FMG) celebrates the wealth of our forest resources and emphasizes our responsibility to care for them. It outlines practical, site-specific considerations that land managers need to take into account when they plan and carry out forestry operations. The FMG covers sustainable forest management principles that can serve recreation, wildlife habitat improvement, endangered species protection, water quality, forest products and many other objectives.

The 400+ page FMG is written for resource managers and enthusiasts. As a result, it might be somewhat difficult for a general reader, but our hope is that it is straightforward and appealing enough to be easily understood.

The 2011 Revision of the Wisconsin Forest Management Guidelines is available at no cost in digital and print media:

• View or download the FMG in PDF format
• Order a free copy of the FMG on CD. The CD includes a pdf version of the FMG. Mail your request for a CD to: Wisconsin DNR - Forestry Publications, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707.
• Obtain a printed version of the book if you are a Wisconsin natural resource manager, Wisconsin timber producer or Wisconsin forestry enthusiast. Due to a limited supply of the printed books, DNR and partners will distribute the print edition primarily at training sessions.

This is the first revision of the original 2003 publication. Instead of doing a bound printing it has been printed in a loose leaf (3-ring binder) style (binder not included). This was done so that individual chapters and appendices could be revised without having to reprint the entire book. Application of the FMG is voluntary, but the document does refer to statutes, administrative rules and programs that could involve mandatory procedures or prohibitions. In those situations, users are encouraged to review original source regulations for specifications that might not be covered in the FMG. Application of the FMG is voluntary, but the document does refer to statutes, administrative rules and programs that could involve mandatory procedures or prohibitions. In those situations, users are encouraged to review original source regulations for specifications that might not be covered in the FMG.