MARQUETTE — The DNR plans prescribed burns, timber harvests and tree thinning to help keep Michigan’s 4 million acres of state forest land healthy and to provide wildlife habitat.

Plans for management activities are finalized two years in advance after public input is gathered in the regional management unit. This fall, recommendations for 2021 are being presented at open houses across northern Michigan. People can talk to foresters, wildlife biologists and other DNR professionals regarding plans within the management units.

Open houses coming up during October include:

– Newberry Management Unit: 3-6 p.m. Oct. 15, at the Newberry Field Office, 5666 M-123 South, Newberry.

About a month after each open house, a public compartment review meeting also will take place. That’s where foresters present their final decisions on management activities. Upcoming compartment review meetings include:

– Gwinn Management Unit: 9:30 a.m. Oct. 9 at Northern Michigan University’s University Center, 1401 Presque Isle Ave., Marquette.

– Shingleton Management Unit: 9 a.m. Oct. 15 at the Shingleton Field Office, E1234 M-28, Shingleton.

– Crystal Falls Management Unit: 8 a.m. CDT Oct. 17 at the Crystal Falls Field Office, 1420 U.S. 2 West, Crystal Falls.

– Grayling Management Unit: 9 a.m. Oct. 21 at the Grayling Field Office, 1955 Hartwick Pines Road, Grayling.

– Newberry Management Unit: 9 a.m. Oct. 29 at the Newberry Correctional Facility training room, 3001 Newberry Ave., Newberry.

For more information, including a link to the interactive forest map showing details of all forest management activities, visit the public input section of the DNR’s Michigan.gov/Forestry webpage.