Wisconsin now has more forestland than at any time since the first forest inventory in 1936,
MADISON – Wisconsin currently has 16 million acres of public and private forests, accounting for 46 percent of the state's land area, according to a recently finalized inventory of the make-up, productivity and health of Wisconsin's entire forest resource."These numbers, which have held steady since the last survey in 1996, indicate the state now has more forestland than at any time since the first forest inventory in 1936," says Paul DeLong, Wisconsin's chief forester and head of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry. In addition, he notes, the inventory found tree growth continues to outpace removals due to harvests.
"We're gratified to see these latest data because they indicate the commitment to sustainable forestry, which provides environmental, economic and social benefits to us all," DeLong says. "
"Given the importance of forests to our Wisconsin economy, environment and quality of life, it is imperative that we take stock of their condition and work collectively to ensure the ability of our forests to continue to provide an array of benefits for future generations."
Also checkout your state at: www.americanforests.org
