WCFA’s 29 member counties manage Wisconsin’s precious natural resources provided in our county forests. Our focus is to maintain a healthy, productive and sustainable forest. Our forests provide a renewable resource when managed responsibly. We are managing not only for our current ecosystem but also for the future.
In order to protect sensitive areas we implement access management plans. Examples of access management are gates and berms for controlled access along with bridges; trail systems and road systems for improved access. We ask for your help in protecting the natural resources of our county forest. Please use your public access respectfully.
Timber Management in our county forests is essential to the health of our forest and economy. WCFA creates jobs statewide both internally and externally: foresters, forest technicians, recreation program employees, land and roads maintenance crews, etc. and externally by supplying raw forest products and offering recreational and tourism opportunities. This results in sustaining over 60,000 full-time jobs in Wisconsin’s forest products industry. Wisconsin's forest industry is a 24 billion dollar per year industry.
Sustainable timber management also provides important income to our member counties and directly offsets local tax levies.
All 29 of WFCA’s member counties also manage their county forests to maximize public recreational opportunities. This management results in 2.4 million acres available for the public to explore literally in their back yards. As our population increases, the need for accessible lands is assuming an ever more important role.
Here is a glimpse of the opportunities available: campsites, beaches, boat landings, canoe portage routes, snowmobile trails, ATV trails, bike trails, horse trails, hiking trails, dogsled and snowshoe trails, cross-country ski trails, and hunting access.
Healthy, diverse forest ecosystem provides an abundance of wildlife habitat. Wildlife habitat can be improved by promoting diversity in tree species and age class when making forest management decisions. We also protect sensitive areas for our wildlife that is more fragile. This focus also results in protecting our important wetland habitats.
In addition, healthy wildlife habitat helps sustain wildlife viewing and hunting. Both are important recreation opportunities, which provide revenue for Wisconsin’s valuable tourism industry. Our creation of hunter walking trails and wildlife openings keeps tourists returning to our county forests.
Watershed management is critical for protection of Wisconsin’s clean water and valuable wetlands. WCFA takes watershed protection steps such as maintaining healthy forests along waterways and wetlands. Undisturbed forest buffers may be left when setting up a timber sale. We also actively manage dams, culverts and bridges to ensure functionality of our watersheds. Watershed protection results in many public recreation opportunities.
healthy, productive and sustainable forest
creates jobs statewide and generates county tax relief
2.4 million acres for public to explore
wildlife viewing and hunting provide state tourism opportunities
watershed management
healthy, productive and sustainable forest
creates jobs statewide and generates county tax relief
2.4 million acres for public to explore
wildlife viewing and hunting provide state tourism opportunities
watershed management
