Forests comprise 53% of the land area of the state, or about 19.3 million acres. These forests are a critical component of Michigans economy for the recreational opportunities and the products they provide. Forestry related industries and manufacturing employ 150,000 people statewide, and annually contribute $9 billion to the states economy. Additionally, forest-based tourism and recreation support 50,000 jobs and add $3 billion to Michigans economy. Michigans forests contribute to clean air, water, and reduce soil erosion.
Forest Health Monitoring. In 1994, permanent plots were established to monitor the health of Michigans forests. This is part of a nationwide Forest Health Monitoring Program, in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency. The motivation to begin monitoring the health of forested ecosystems grew out of the concern for the potential effects of air pollutants, insects, diseases, and other stressors, and concern for the potential effects of global climate changes. There are 247 plots in Michigan, of which 133 are forested.
A second plot monitoring system, the Michigan Impact Monitoring System, provides a more detailed look at stressors affecting the major forest types in the Upper and northern Lower Peninsulas. Over 600 plots are measured each summer to determine the health of mature trees and young seedlings and saplings in the understory of Michigans oak, aspen, and northern hardwood forests.
Recently, information collected from these two plot systems detected a problem with basswood across much of its range. Repeated attacks by a group of insect defoliators may be one factor contributing to the decline and death of basswood trees. A cooperative effort between the U.S. Forest Service and several Lake State agencies will try to unravel the causes and affects of this decline.Other Issues
Numbers of the jack pine budworm, a needle feeding caterpillar that attacks jack pine of all sizes, have increased sharply since 1996. Some 25,000 acres were defoliated by the budworm in the northcentral Lower Peninsula in 1997. Jack pine that is 60 years of age or older is particularly susceptible to topkill and death. Stands of jack pine that are under stress from competition caused by poor growing conditions are also prone to mortality following defoliation. Management efforts focus on identifying high-risk stands for harvest prior to defoliation, and prompt salvage of trees killed by the budworm. Use of insecticides is rarely cost-effective against the budworm except in areas, where dead trees may decrease recreational value. Exotic Forest Pests Other Than Gypsy Moth
The pine shoot beetle (Tomicus piniperda (L.)) was first discovered in two Upper Peninsula counties in 1997. These counties are included in a quarantine with 63 counties in Lower Michigan. Although Scots pine is a preferred host, other pines are attacked. Attacked shoots usually bend and break at the point of attack.
Tomicus is an exotic pest discovered in Ohio in 1992. It has now been found in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. A quarantine is in place to hinder its spread to new areas as evaluations of its environmental and economic impact determine the next course of action.
The impacts of exotic weeds are not well understood, but the threats are real. Native plants and habitat in wetlands are being displaced by purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria & L. virgatum). Loosestrife is an aggressive invader, excluding native vegetation where it grows. Purple loosestrife is not a food source for native animals or insects.
Spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa) is an aggressive invader of disturbed sites and releases chemicals in the soil that affect growth of nearby vegetation. It is a prolific seeder. It is not eaten by animals because it can irritate their mouths. Knapweed is a poor soil stabilizer on disturbed sites due to bare ground under plants via alleliopathic exclusion of other plants.
Other examples of exotic weeds of concern in Michigan include leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) and garlic mustard (Alliaria officinalis). Exotic plants have the advantage of not being limited in growth or reproductive potential by biological controls such as insects feeding on leaves, roots, flowers or seeds. This gives them a very strong competitive advantage over native flora. Thus, native flora are competitively displaced, disturbing natural floral, faunal and ecosystem functions.
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