The Department of Natural Resources and Environment will host an open house on Wednesday, Sept. 29, 3 to 7 p.m., to provide information and receive public comment on proposed 2012 forest management treatments in the Roscommon Forest Management Unit. The open house will be held at the Roscommon Field Office (just off I-75, exit 239, behind the Roscommon Operations Service Center) at 8717 North Roscommon Road.

Each year the DNRE inventories and evaluates one-tenth of state-owned forest. Personnel gather information about the health, quality and quantity of all vegetation; wildlife and fisheries habitat and needs; archaeological sites; minerals; recreational use and wildfire potential. They also evaluate social factors, including proximity to roads and neighborhoods and use on adjacent public and private lands. The DNRE then proposes treatments to ensure the sustainability of the resources and ecosystems. These treatments may include timber harvesting, replanting and other management activities.

The open house is an opportunity for the public to review proposed treatments and to provide input toward final decisions. It also provides the public an opportunity to talk with foresters and biologists about issues of interest. Maps and information regarding the proposed treatments will be available at the open house, and can be found at www.michigan.gov/forestplan. .

Each forest section is divided into smaller units for easier management of the resources. The Roscommon open house will focus on forest units in Lyon, Higgins, AuSable, Richfield, Backus, Lake, Markey, Denton and Roscommon townships in Roscommon County; and Foster, Rose, Goodar, Cumming, Hill and Churchill townships in Ogemaw County.

The formal compartment review to decide on prescriptions for these areas is scheduled for 9 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 20, at the Roscommon Operations Service Center at 8717 North Roscommon Road.

Persons with disabilities needing accommodations for any of these meetings should contact Steve Anderson at 989-275-4622 a minimum of five (5) business days before the meeting.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment is committed to the conservation, protection, management, and accessible use and enjoyment of the state's environment, natural resources and related economic interests for current and future generations. Learn more at www.michigan.gov/dnre.