By Steve Kariainen, HFHC Great Lakes Director
The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (CNNF) reports timber sales for fiscal year 2018 increased to 128.7 Million Board Feet (MMBF), marking six consecutive years of increased sales. Paul Strong, Forest Supervisor of the CNNF, notes this is the largest volume sold on the forest since the early 1990s.
The increase in timber sales provides more wood to Wisconsin’s forest products industry, while helping improve healthy forest conditions prescribed in the CNNF 2004 Land and Resource Management Plan.
Nearly 24% of the CNNF timber volume (30.7 MMBF) was sold by the Wisconsin DNR Forestry through the Good Neighbor Authority. Strong notes the Good Neighbor Authority was permanently authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, helping the CNNF to increase timber sales and sustainable management activities.
Henry Schienebeck, Executive Director of the Great Lakes Timber Professional Association, concurs – expecting “forest health should improve greatly” with the increased harvest levels due to the Good Neighbor Authority.
