MICHIGAN FOREST HISTORY
MICHIGAN STATE FORESTS

Michigan's forest dominated the landscape for centuries.  In the 1800s, settlement, farming, logging, and forest fires changed the landscape dramatically.  Farming mostly failed on the poor sandy soils of northern Michigan and logging removed forest cover.  Whatever the reason, the landscape was left with dead wood or slash and vulnerable to intense forest fires.  In 1871, fires burned approximately 2.5 million acres.  Over 1 million acres burned in the Thumb in 1881.  Fires destroyed trees, habitat, killed wildlife, and accelerated erosion and river/stream degradation.

In 1887, the State of Michigan established a Forestry Commission to preserve, protect, and restore Michigan's forests.  The Commission was later dissolved.  In 1889, the Forestry Commission was re-established.  The Forestry Commission started nurseries for seedlings and stressed that fire protection was imperative to good forest management.  In 1902, Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University) established a Forestry curriculum for education, training, and research.  The University of Michigan (1902) and Michigan Technological University (1936) established programs as well.

In 1903, the Forestry Commission established the first state forest in Crawford and Roscommon counties.  Over the next 100 years the state forest system grew from 34,000 acres to nearly 4 million acres.  It vegetation changed dramatically as well, transforming from cutover and burned-over abandoned land to a vibrant, healthy, growing forest.

Today, Michigan's landscape is again dominated by forests, covering a little over half the State.  These 19.3 million acres of forest land support a diversity of ecosystems, trees, animals, birds, fish, provide outdoor recreation, protect air and water quality, support local communities and forest industry, and enhance the quality of life in Michigan.

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This site created and maintained by Bill Cook, MSU Extension Forester for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.   Editing and modification is ongoing.  Submit suggestions, questions, and corrections to cookwi@msu.edu or call 906-786-1575.