The Forestry AOE team was formed in 1995, focusing initially on forest landowner issues and
continuing educational opportunities for the logging industry. The team has expanded its reach
since then, providing a wide range of forest and forestry-related education programs and products.

The Forestry AOE team focuses its attention on a wide variety of forest issues, forest owners, and
forest benefits. Since Michigan relies so heavily on its forest resources for timber, tourism and
recreation, and social and environmental well-being, the team must extend its focus beyond the
traditional needs of the wood products industries. The potential audiences for the services the
team provides include:

Non-industrial private forest landowners
Logging and forest products industries
Special forest products growers 
Urban and community forestry interests
Not-for-profit forest organizations and groups
Public natural resource agencies
Schools and other educational institutions

Improving Your Land for Wildlife—This program contains modules on wildlife management concepts, the value of openings to wildlife, maintaining openings, timber management for wildlife, and creating food plots for wildlife.  The program was designed to presented during a 3-hour block or the individual modules can be used to complement other programming efforts. 

Master Woodland Manager Program—Ownership patterns, land tenure and demographics of private forest land owners is constantly changing.  These trends present huge challenges to providing woodland management information though the small network of natural resources professionals within MSUE and other agencies.  The Master Woodland Manager program helps to address this issue enabling volunteers to assist with woodland education, adding impact to MSUE’s education programs. This coming year, the program will be offered in at least two additional locations. The newsletter will continue to be produced--including making it accessible on-line--to keep program graduates informed of upcoming issues and events.

Fact sheets and bulletins—Fact sheets and bulletins offered by Forestry Extension professionals will be updated and offered on-line. Topics range from forest cover type profiles to basic management principles to economic considerations.

SFE evaluation—The team will conduct an evaluation of the successful Sustainable Forestry Education (SFE) program to measure the extent of its impact on logger and forester knowledge and forestry practices. Professional assistance will be sought to accurately assess this important program.

Non-Industrial Private Forestland (NIPF) Owners Survey—Over 350,000 households own some amount of forested land, yet the majority of these woodland owners are not actively involved in managing their land, nor are they familiar with the range of forestry and forest-related services that is available to them. Members of the Forestry AoE Team will complete a statewide survey of these NIPF owners, asking them about the interests and involvement they maintain with their forested land.
 

Marketing and management of hardwood timber—Select members of the team will host regional workshops to increase the participant's knowledge of the value of Michigan's hardwood timber resource and how to manage and harvest hardwood timber in a sustainable fashion without degrading the timber resource.

Timber taxation—Members of the team will hold a series of taxation workshops for loggers (as part of the SFE program) and for forestry service providers and landowners this winter and early spring. These two to four hour workshops are extremely successful, and are offered regularly as laws and guidelines change.

Consulting forester and wildlife biologist listings—Extension has in the past offered a listing of all active consulting foresters and wildlife biologists in the state, and an update is desperately needed. The updated listing will be offered on-line via the MSU Department of Forestry.

Teaching Responsible Environmental Education (TREE)—MFRA has also provided the Forestry AoE team with funding to include the TREE presentation in youth education programs. It has been used in the Upper Peninsula as an introduction to a comprehensive forest management program for fifth graders.

Project Learning Tree—The Michigan Department of Natural Resources, together with the Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, is working toward reinvigorating Project Learning Tree, a comprehensive, hands-on program that focuses on the role of trees and forests in the environment. Several members from the Forestry AoE Team will be participating in expanding this internationally known program throughout the state.