Tree-cutting program has side benefits

By Jenny Lancour - jlancour@dailypress.net

ESCANABA - In addition to revenue, the city of Escanaba will reap a variety of benefits from its timber-harvesting program now underway.

"Following timber harvesting, the city of Escanaba's forest will once again be healthier, more productive and more diverse than in past years," said Dean Francis, a forester with the Upper Michigan Land Management and Wildlife Services of Escanaba.

City council approved the forest harvest plan in March 2007, and hired the land management company to manage the timber cutting, including advertising for bids, awarding bids to contractors and inspecting logging operations.

Timber harvesting is progressing well and is on schedule, Francis said, explaining the harvest contract is for three years on 366 acres of city property.

Tree-cutting operations began in early spring with K & K Logging of Escanaba doing the work. About 20 percent of the planned harvest has been completed with the logger following all forest and land "best management practices" imposed by regulatory agencies, said Francis.

"The tree products are being sold to various mills throughout the central U.P.," he said. "Pulpwood is being sold to NewPage for paper production. Sawlogs are sold to log buyers. In turn, their companies produce building products and furniture products."

Overall, the city is projected to receive $265,000 from the timber harvest, Francis said. In addition to a healthier forest, roads and trails will be improved, improving access to the city property.

"Timber harvesting will create new roads to facilitate trucking and hauling. The existing trails and roads will be widened and smoothed," Francis said. Access throughout the forest will be improved, providing more opportunities for recreational activities as well as for cleaning up illegal dumping, he said.

Trees are being harvested on the city property according to a four-phase process:

Phase one, currently underway, is the harvesting of mature to over-mature forest areas.

Phase two involves the natural regeneration of the forest through roots and seeds.

Phase three will improve access to the forest for cross-country skiing, hiking, nature walks and educational opportunities.

Phase four involves the possibility of introducing tree and shrub species to improve wildlife habitat.

The city's forest plan was created by NewPage forester Gilbert Marshall who based harvest recommendations on the type, age and quality of trees as well as wildlife, streams and threatened or endangered plant and bird species present.

The forest management plan was identified as aneed in the city's comprehensive plan.