Forestry
Forestry Assistance Program
Here in Northern Michigan, we pride ourselves on our pristine and peaceful forests. We encourage private landowners to actively manage their lands to create thriving ecosystems throughout and beyond their property lines.
Through the Forestry Assistance Program (FAP), our Forester can provide an initial consultation to help you assess your land, determine programs to help you achieve your goals based on your values, and connect you with other forestry professionals, including Qualified Foresters in Michigan.
Our Forester is versed in the Best Forestry Management Practices unique to our state and can provide guidance on forest pests and diseases, improving forest health, and planting and harvest recommendations.
FAP Consultation Services
Free on-site property evaluations
Tree and wildlife shrub planting recommendations
Timber management & administration resources
Wildlife habitat enhancement recommendations
Wetland enhancement resources
Tree insect & disease identification
Invasive plant control options
Forest Stewardship Program
Commercial Forest Act Information
Qualified Forest Program Tax Reduction
Quality Deer Management
Hunting Access Program (HAP) land leasing info.
American Tree Farm Program
Christmas tree management
Forest, Wetlands and Habitat*A*Syst Program
Available cost-share programs
The Qualified Forest Program (QFP) is designed to help private landowners manage the natural resources they have, specific to their land and objectives.
QFP encourages active land management strategies like sustainable timber harvests, selective cuts and thinning, reforestation, wildlife habitat enhancement, and pest and disease control. This improves the quality and security of ecosystems throughout Michigan and has the potential to create a revenue stream to support your land.
Our District Forester works with landowners to better understand their values, goals, and resources to connect them with the proper natural resource professionals. Through enrollment in QFP through The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), landowners will receive an exemption from the local school operating millage. An additional benefit is the protection against the increase of taxes through land sales or transfers.
By creating a Forest Management Plan based on QFP standards with a Qualified Forester, you can develop a better understanding of the natural resources you have, lay out goals for your land, how they impact one another, and establish a plan to keep your property healthy and productive for years to come.
Qualified Forest Program
Qualified Foresters
Our conservation district maintains a directory of forestry professionals for our landowners to utilize based on their needs.
If you are a Qualified Forester servicing Osceola or Lake County, and would like to become apart of our contractor list we provide to our clientele, email Soren Murphy via linked button below.
Referrals
We manage an active list of project referrals from our landowners. Included on the list are large and small lot timber projects. Forestry Professionals interested in submitting a bid for a project should email our District Forester.
After your inquiry has been submitted, our Forester will forward all submissions to the landowner. The landowner will be responsible for determining which professional they would like to work with.
Our forester will be available as a resource for both the landowner and project manager to facilitate an active working relationship.
Forestry Professionals interested in working with our landowners can sign up for our email list, where we send referrals directly to your inbox with the information you need for your next project!
Free Tree Disease Testing
The Mecosta Conservation District is thrilled to announce a generous $5,000 donation from Cargill, Inc. to support an initiative aimed at helping local landowners in Mecosta, Osceola, and the Eastern Half of Lake Counties diagnose and manage tree diseases that threaten the region’s valuable forest resources. The funding will help cover diagnostic testing costs, including those for Oak Wilt, Verticillium Wilt, Dutch Elm Disease, Needlecast Disease, and more.
Tree diseases, when left unchecked, can decimate entire populations of trees, causing irreversible damage to forest ecosystems and their ability to provide crucial services, such as carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat and water filtration. In addition, the economic value of timber and forest products is at risk, as landowners face the potential loss of valuable tree resources.
Early detection of diseases like Oak Wilt is key to preventing further spread. Oak Wilt, in particular, is a highly contagious fungal disease that threatens oak trees, one of Michigan’s most important and iconic tree species. If not detected early and managed properly, Oak Wilt can spread rapidly and result in the death of hundreds of trees in a relatively short time.
Other diseases such as Dutch Elm Disease and Verticillium Wilt can similarly devastate forests, threatening biodiversity and reducing forest resilience in the face of climate change. Proactive testing and management are critical in controlling these diseases, preventing further loss, and safeguarding the forested landscapes that contribute to the quality of life in these counties.
The Mecosta Conservation District expects to assist at least 100 landowners with the funds available. If there is a high level of interest, additional grant opportunities will be explored to extend the program. Interested landowners should contact District Forester Soren Murphy to evaluate if tree disease testing is warranted. Depending on the situation, Soren may request pictures and schedule a site visit prior to testing. Once test results are received, the District Forester is committed to assisting landowners with the next steps in forest management to ensure the health of their trees and long-term sustainability.
Schedule Your Site Visit Today!
Connect with our Forester:
Soren Murphy
(231)-408-3567
