How much forested land does Wisconsin have?

Wisconsin's total land area is 34.7 million acres. Land growing trees covers 16 million acres or 46%. Most forested land is in the northern part of the state.

How old are Wisconsin's forests?

Many southern Wisconsin forests were cleared for agriculture by the late 1800's. Forests in the north were heavily cut for timber by the early 1900's. Therefore, almost all the mature trees you see today are less than 125 years old. Thousands of acres of pine were planted across the state in the 1930's by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Who owns and cares for Wisconsin's forests?

Most forested land in Wisconsin...57%...is owned by individual landowners like farmers, home owners, hunting partners, investors and others. 32% is owned by federal, state, county or tribal governments. 11% is owned by private corporations.

Deforestation is a big concern. How much forested land does Wisconsin lose every year?

Unlike some parts of the world, Wisconsin has been gaining forest acreage, not losing. After heavy logging early in the 20th century, much land was burned and converted to agriculture. But, since the 1930's, much marginal crop and pastureland has been planted with trees so the state now has more forestland than at any time since inventories began in 1936.

But I see log trucks on the road all the time. This harvesting must be having some effect.

Of every 1,000 live trees over ten feet tall in Wisconsin this year, 80 will die from severe weather, insect damage, crowding, disease or old age. Only 4 of the thousand will be harvested by loggers. However, 98 new trees will grow past the ten foot mark during the year. Therefore, in Wisconsin, annual wood growth exceeds harvest for most species.

Still, can't we just get our wood products from somewhere else and leave Wisconsin's woods alone?

We could, but the forest most hospitable to the greatest diversity of plants and animals is one with young, old and medium age trees, and a variety of tree species. Since fires, insects and tree diseases are better controlled today, one way to make room for younger trees is to harvest those nearing the end of their life cycle. Cutting trees properly not only mimics natural events like fire, but provides society with jobs and hundreds of useful wood products. The alternative would be to use nonrenewable material or wood imported from places that, unlike Wisconsin, do not manage forests in a sustainable fashion.

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How much wood does the average person use in a year?

About 1,664 pounds, or one log 18 inches across and 25 feet long will meet the needs of an average person annually for building supplies, newsprint, printing and writing paper, tissue paper, paper towels, product packaging and mail. Also, there are hundreds of products you might not think contained wood fiber like toothpaste, football helmets, scotch tape and milkshakes.

The population is growing. What guarantees that harvests won't rise again to destructive levels?

Like any profession, modern forestry and wood production have become highly evolved. Many sensible practices unheard of years ago are now common, such as recycling. Technological developments allow wood products to be manufactured from smaller pieces of wood, thus using more of each tree and reducing waste. In addition, conservation and forest health are now top priorities. Modern forest planning in Wisconsin balances wood harvest with other forest uses such as wildlife habitat, recreation, erosion control, biological diversity and other needs.

After trees are cut, how do they grow back?

Forests can regenerate when seeds drop or blow in from nearby trees, or when seeds are carried in by birds and animals; by the planting of seedlings; by seedlings which sprout from roots or stumps left after harvest; or by existing seedlings which cannot thrive in the shade of larger trees, but once allowed sunlight, will grow quickly. Preharvest planning and proper harvest techniques assure that one or more of these methods will succeed.

Are there any rules and regulations which govern the use of forestland in Wisconsin?

Yes, but they do not apply uniformly to every parcel. Most government and industry owned land is managed according to carefully written plans which specify environmental protections, insect and disease control, recreational uses of the property and wood production. Parcels of individually owned forest land are subject to some environmental restrictions on harvesting near lakes or streams, and many owners voluntarily observe "best management practices". One state program offers landowners a property tax deferral in exchange