The Ingham Conservation District does not currently have a forestry professional on staff. However, the District continues to move forward with the following Forest Stewardship Plan.

Management Goals for Mid-Michigan's Forests
Many issues affect private forest land in Mid-Michigan. Outdated management practices, grazing practices, and ivasive species have altered the structure and composition of many of the existing forest stands. Hardwood forests covered much of the area in mid-Michigan before it was settled. Over 90 percent of the historic beech-maple forest has been converted to agricultural use due to the high productivity of the soild, which are Capac and Marlett loam. Approximately 43,876 acres of forest land remains, with 7,432 acres lested as forested wetlands. Remaining wooded areas are generally small, unconnected tracts. The timber in these woodlots is usually of high timber value, including oak, sugar maple, black cherry and walnut.

The Forest Stewardship Program helps private landowners meet property management goals while investing in sound practices that provide both economic and ecological benefits. Financial assistance for plan preparation is available on a cost-share basis through the programs. For more information, contact ICD or call the Michigan Department of Natural Resources at 517-373-1275.

The Forest Stewardship Plan for the Ingham Conservtion Center was written by a professional forestry conultant in the summer of 2002. It laid out the management goals for every unit and area and the methods to reach those goals. The Forest Stewardship Program provided funding for the plan to assist the Ingham Conservation District in increasing the benefits derived from the land while conserving it for the future. The plan and its implementation are meant to promote to landowners the value of learning about and choosing sound management practices. The Center is a living laboratory; unfolding a story of forest management in mid-Michigan. It is a creation always in the making and a souvenir of past landowners. It is our gift to future landowners.

We started with a Forest Stewardship Plan to document our objectives and to decide on management practices needed to accomplish these objectives. This plan will increase the quality of our natural resources; by planning and implementing practices that promote complex forest canopies, which will reap multiple benefits to plant and animal communities; managing various ecosystems for biological diversity; and increasing the economic value of the timber.

This plan will provide a guide to reach our management goals and communicate these goals to the public.