Curt Wilson

CURT WILSON- REGIONAL FORESTRY LEADERNORTHEAST REGION-GREEN BAY, WDNRJUNE 2012

ASSESSING THE DIRECTION OF THE FOREST RESOURCE

QUESTIONS FOR TODAY

1. What’s the state of the Upper Great Lakes forests?

• Trends in the Upper Great Lakes states and examples from Wisconsin’s 2010 Statewide Forest Assessment

2. What can we do to address the issues, threats, and opportunities?

• Wisconsin’s Statewide Forest Strategy & Forestry Division’s Strategic Direction as an example

THE WORLD IS CHANGING

• Changing demographics

• Accelerating globalization

• Expanding impact of technology

• Increasing environmental/natural resource concerns

FORESTRY IN THE REGION IS CHANGING

• Demographic of our customers - citizens and landowners – is changing.

• Capacity of partners is evolving.

• Globalization is affecting the extent and make-up of forest industry.

• Demand for the benefits forests provide is increasing.

THE FOREST RESOURCEIN THE UPPER GREAT LAKES STATES AND WISCONSIN

PLANNING PROCESS

1. Sustainability Framework

2. Statewide Forest Assessment

3. Statewide Forest Strategy

4. Strategic Direction

THEMES

1. Fragmentation & Parcelization

2. Forest Composition & Structure

3. Energy & Climate Change

4. Forests as Economic Contributor

5. Protection of Life & Property in Forested Areas

FOREST AREA-UPPER GREAT LAKES STATES-

Upper Great Lakes State

Forest Cover Acreage

% Forest Cover

Michigan 19,544,598 54

Minnesota 16,391,465 32

Wisconsin 16,274,666 47

Upper Great Lakes States 52,210,729 43

Data Source: USDA Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis

• Currently, 43% of the Upper Great Lakes States are covered by forests.

% Total Forest Land and Non Forest Land in Michigan, Minnesota, & Wisconsin in 2007

Forest land Area

Land use Type 1983 acres 1996 acres 2007 acres

Timberland 14,759,400 15,700,877 16,181,993

Reserved Forest Land 260,900 201,428 93,266

Other Forest Land 331,000 60,714 132,711

Total Forest Land 15,351,300 15,963,019 16,407,970

(USFS, FIA, 2007)

FOREST AREA-WISCONSIN-

• Over 47% of Wisconsin is covered by forests.

FOREST LAND OWNERSHIP-UPPER GREAT LAKES STATES-

Forest Ownership in 2011

State(s) FEDERAL STATE COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL

PRIVATE FOREST INDUSTRY

PRIVATE NONINDUSTRIAL

NATIVE AMERICAN

TOTAL FORESTLAND

Michigan 3,061,815 4,165,809 406,636 999,447 11,452,548 25,644 20,127,049

Minnesota 2,989,628 3,878,943 2,750,159 665,138 6,530,682 549,006 17,370,394

Wisconsin 1,616,442 1,148,165 2,337,810 879,970 10,592,099 397,949 16,980,084

Upper Great Lakes States 7,667,885 9,192,917 5,494,605 2,544,556 28,575,329 972,600 54,477,527

% of Total Forestland 14% 17% 10% 5% 52% 2%

Sources: USDA Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis

• 59% of forests in the Upper Great Lakes States are under some form of private ownership

FOREST LAND OWNERSHIP-WISCONSIN-

37% increase in non-industrial land owners

• 263,000 (1997)• 362,000 (2006)

Acres in WI Forest Tax Laws under Industrial Statusby year

880,000

930,000

980,000

1,030,000

1,080,000

Acres in1999

Acres in2002

Acres in2003

Acres in2005

Acres in2006

Acres in2007

Number of owners of private forest in Wisconsin by parcel size class

Ownership Parcel Size

# Owners (thousands)

1997 2006Change

from 1997 to 2006

1-9 92 176 84

10-19 40 46 6

20-49 69 77 8

50-99 37 36 -1

100-199 17 19 2

200-499 7 7 0

500-999 1 1 0

1000-4999 <1 <1 0

≥5000 <1 <1 0

Total 263 362 99(USDA, FIA, NWOS, 2006)

FOREST LAND OWNERSHIP-WISCONSIN-

• Total non-industrial private forest acreage rose 14.23% and forest industry ownership fell 51.50% during the 38 year span (1968-2006) as land was transferred to other ownership categories.

WILDFIRE-GREAT LAKES STATES-

• Wildfires are a natural force, influencing--and even renewing--forest ecosystems.

• Different suppression strategies are used in each of the Great Lakes States and among various landholders

• Short term weather conditions are the major driver of fire risk; blow downs and ice storms result in fuel accumulations in the Great Lakes States

State(s)Acres of Land Burned by Wildfire in 2010

Michigan 11,357Minnesota 27,000Wisconsin 2,093Great Lakes States 40,450

Data Source: USDA Forest Service, Fire and Aviation Management

Amount of land burned by wildfire in MI, MN, WI

WILDLAND FIRE-WISCONSIN-

• Specific areas have a high risk of large, destructive wildland fires, from an ecological, social and/or historical perspective

• The principle causes of wildfires have changed over time. Railroads are causing fewer fires and the no. 1 cause of wildland fires is debris burning.

CLIMATE CHANGE-UPPER GREAT LAKES STATES-

• Shifts are likely to lead to changes in forest function and composition

• Climate change may relieve some stressors while exacerbating others

CLIMATE CHANGE-UPPER GREAT LAKES STATES-

Trends among models show:• Northern and boreal species decrease in extent and/or

abundance

• Species highly likely to show severe declines include balsam fir, paper birch, and white spruce

• Species likely to show some decline include red pine, jack pine, northern white-cedar, quaking aspen, and yellow birch

• Species with potential to increase include bur oak, black oak, and bitternut hickory

CLIMATE CHANGE-WISCONSIN-

• Long-term climate related changes in temperature and precipitation will directly and indirectly impact the health and vitality of Wisconsin’s forests.

INVASIVE SPECIES-UPPER GREAT LAKES STATES-

• Non-native invasive species have the potential to reduce forest diversity and cause huge economic and ecological damage to forests.

• Insect species such as the Emerald Ash Borer, Gypsy Moth and Asian Long Horned Beetle have already caused major damage in forests and in urban areas in the Midwest.

• Non-native disease causing organisms that cause mortality from White Pine Blister Rust, and Dutch Elm Disease are well documented historically. More recent examples include Beech Bark Disease and Sudden Oak Death.

INVASIVE SPECIES-UPPER GREAT LAKES STATES-

National map of emerald ash borer detections as of May, 2012.

http://www.emeraldashborer.wi.gov/

Areas outlined in blue are under federal quarantine for emerald ash borer.

INVASIVE SPECIES-WISCONSIN-

• The emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, is an exotic insect that was first observed in Wisconsin in 2008.

• Approximately 5.2 million urban trees, about 20% of all trees in Wisconsin’s cities and villages, are ash.

EAB Infestation in Wisconsin as of 2011

http://www.emeraldashborer.wi.gov/

WATER PROTECTION-UPPER GREAT LAKES STATES-

WATER PROTECTION-WISCONSIN-

Over 10 million acres of Wisconsin’s 16 million acres of forest land have a management focus that includes protection of soil and water resources.

GROWTH & REMOVALS-UPPER GREAT LAKES STATES-

In 1996, the growth to removal ratio was 1.56; By 2011, the ratio had jumped to 1.88

Michigan has the highest ratio (2.22 in 2011), while Minnesota has the lowest ratio (1.52 in 2011).

Net annual growth and removals of growing stock on timberland in the Upper Great Lakes States

Data Source: USDA Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis

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200

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700

1983 1996 2007

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Growth Removals

GROWTH & REMOVALS-WISCONSIN-

• In Wisconsin, growth exceeded removals by at least 30% from 1983 to 2007.

• Four major commercial species have declined significantly in growing stock volume since 1983:• jack pine (45% decline)• paper birch (40% decline)• balsam fir (27% decline)• quaking aspen (14% decline).

FOREST PRODUCTS INDUSTRY-UPPER GREAT LAKES STATES-

Value and Rank of Wood Product Shipments in 2011

Rank State Shipments: Wood(x1000)

Shipments: Paper (x1000)

Total(x1000)

1Wisconsin $3,158,895 $13,042,346 $16,201,241

2Pennsylvania $3,474,938 $10,502,906 $13,977,844

3California $3,913,781 $9,102,976 $13,016,757

4Georgia $3,057,691 $9,800,444 $12,858,135

5Alabama $2,419,280 $7,718,266 $10,137,546

6Texas $3,772,821 $5,933,975 $9,706,796

7Washington $2,648,765 $4,942,873 $7,591,638

8Oregon $4,042,191 $3,037,137 $7,079,328

9Minnesota $2,228,235 $4,790,624 $7,018,859

10 Illinois $1,293,843 $5,238,658 $6,532,501

11Tennessee $1,576,702 $4,696,630 $6,273,332

12Kentucky $1,468,913 $4,795,787 $6,264,700

13Virginia $2,706,036 $3,459,180 $6,165,216

14Michigan $1,645,015 $4,482,035 $6,127,050

15New York $1,032,431 $5,022,060 $6,054,491

- Lake States 7,032,145 22,315,005 29,347,150AFPA, 2011

FORESTRY PROFESSIONALS-UPPER GREAT LAKES STATES-

Wisconsin Certified Master Loggers2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2011

# Master Loggers 21 36 39 49 52 55

• The average logging firm has been in business for over 20 years and the average firm owner is 47 years old.

• Forest management positions will see over 50% of the workforce turn over in the next decade.

• Currently, WI has 55 Master Loggers and Michigan has 28. Minnesota does not have an Master Logger program

Forestry Related Degrees Granted by U.S. Colleges 2002-2008

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1000

1500

2000

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2002 2004 2006 2008

Year

Nu

mb

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Masters

Baccalaureate

STATEWIDE FOREST STRATEGY


Focuses everyone on the big issues – agreement on the goals and strategies

How do we move forward?

Forestry community – anyone can decide to implement a strategy or action


THEMES (5) Priority issues identified in the

Assessment

GOALSDesired conditions for each

Theme

STRATEGIESIdeas to address the issues/

trends/ opportunities in each Theme

ACTIONSPossible activities to enact the

Strategies

Goal:

Large blocks of forest are maintained/increased

Strategy:

Pursue the conservation and protection of large, unfragmented blocks of forest lands

Possible Action:

Continue to identify opportunities to purchase easements and encourage investment in working forests through the Forest Legacy program.

Goal:

The spectrum of native and exotic invasive species is being addressed to minimize loss of forested ecosystem function.

Strategy:

Strive to prevent infestations of invasive species before they arrive.

Possible Action:

Work in public/private partnerships to conduct species risk assessments and identify priority invasive species for regulatory action consistent with NR 40.

Goal:

Wisconsin is a hub of green forest product markets, producing a diversity of value added solid wood, fiber, energy and ecosystem services.

Strategy:

Support existing forest products companies so that they are competitive domestically and internationally.

Possible Action:

•Develop Great Lakes regional branding to market sustainably produced products with the organizations like the Great Lakes Forests Alliance.

STRATEGIC DIRECTION - IMPLEMENTATION

DIVISION OF FORESTRY STRATEGIC DIRECTION

What is our role in the Statewide Forest Strategy?

Of the many roles we have/could have, what is our Strategic Direction?

Division’s niche Partners’ roles Existing resources

DIVISION OF FORESTRYSTRATEGIC DIRECTION

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCESMay 2011

PUBLIC LANDS

• Maintain our strong partnership with the counties with more efficient use of resources

• Meet annual allowable harvest goals on State Lands and invest more in reforestation.

• Improve recreation opportunities and visitor safety on State Forests

FIRE PROTECTION

• Allocate resources based on an updated assessment of risk as defined by fire landscapes.

• Value partnerships in accomplishing mission: fire departments and other agencies

• Maintaining our Fire Department Grant Program

• Increasing our investment in prevention and our Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) program

.

FOREST HEALTH & INVASIVES

• Provide technical expertise in the prevention, detection, assessment, management and monitoring of invasive plants, insects and diseases.

• Maintain education and training and partnership emphasis.

• Maintain our existing capacity to assist public and private forest landowners.

PRIVATE FORESTRY

Increase investment in reaching private landowners who have not received professional assistance

Facilitate the ability of private landowners to manage their forest land sustainably.

Complement the work accomplished by private sector professionals.

URBAN & COMMUNITY FORESTS

Shift emphasis from a public ”street tree” model to an integrated ”community canopy” model.

Facilitate bringing interests together and building partnerships.

FOREST PRODUCTS SERVICES

Increase our capacity to provide assistance to wood-producing and wood-using companies around the state to increase economic output for the forest sector.

Increase new business and forest sector employment.

CERTIFICATION

The Division remains committed to its investment in third-party certification of state lands, county forests and lands in the Managed Forest Law program

PARTNERSHIPS ARE CRITICAL-WE CAN’T DO THIS ALONE-

PARTNERS (~350 SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS)

• Government & Research• State Agencies (Agriculture,

Wildlife, Endangered Resources, Parks & Rec)

• Federal Agencies (USFS, NRCS)• Wisconsin County Forest

Association• Regional Planning

Commissions• Universities, Extension Agents• Conservation Districts

• Tribes

• Private Business• Consulting Foresters• Forest Products Companies• Wisconsin Paper Council• Timber Professionals

• Conservation• The Nature Conservancy• Dovetail Partners• Wildlife groups (e.g., Ruffed

Grouse Society)• Wisconsin Woodland Owners

Association

• Advisory Boards• Wisconsin Council on Forestry

& Council on Urban Forestry• Stewardship Committee• Water Quality BMP Advisory

Committee

• Others• Great Lakes Forest Alliance• Society of American Foresters• Private forest owners• And many others…

CONCLUSION

• Forests are a critical asset in the Great Lakes States and will continue to be.

• Many challenges that exist that we, as the regional forestry community, must address together to enhance that asset.

QUESTIONS?

THANK YOU

Education

Curt Wilson