Michigan forestland covers more than 55% of the state at 18.5 million acres. This is a 7% increase since 1980. There are more big trees now than in the last 50 years. Between 1980 and 2010, the total volume of timber growing in the state increased 35 percent. The most common tree is Michigan is sugar maple, followed by red maple, northern white cedar, red pine, and quaking aspen.