USDA Forest Service

Intact forest lands supply timber products, wildlife habitat, soil and watershed protection, aesthetics, and recreational opportunities. However, conversion of these forests to housing developments, shopping malls and other development activities, takes away the benefits these forests provide to Michigan's citizens.

Local governments commonly guide development away from the most sensitive areas through traditional land use controls (like zoning and performance standards). However, sometimes these measures are not sufficient to fully protect privately owned and environmentally significant forest lands.

Michigan's Forest Legacy Program (FLP) is in partnership with USDA Forest Service. Its overarching goal is to protect privately owned and environmentally significant forest lands from being converted to non-forest uses. FLP is an entirely voluntary program. It seeks to accomplish this by acquisition of conservation easements, legally binding agreements transferring a negotiated set of property rights from one party to another, without removing the property from private ownership. As stated in the Michigan's Assessment of Need, conservation easements purchased using FLP funds will restrict development, require sustainable forestry practices, and protect a variety of other values as stated in the "Means for Protection" section described in Michigan's Assessment of Need.

Michigan's FLP encourages partnerships with local governments and land trusts, recognizing the important contributions landowners, communities and private organizations make to conservation efforts.

Michigan's Forest Legacy Program requires that the rights of pubic access be conveyed to the State on all land or interests in land that is acquired with Forest Legacy Program Funding.

Forest Legacy Program Nomination Application - PR4400

Michigan's Forest Legacy Areas

Eligibility

Participation in Forest Legacy is limited to private forest landowners. To qualify, landowners are required to prepare a multiple resource management plan as part of the conservation easement acquisition. The federal government may fund up to 75% of program costs, with at least 25% coming from private, state or local sources. In addition to gains associated with the sale or donation of property rights, many landowners may also benefit from reduced taxes associated with limits placed on land use.

Assessment of Need (AON)

In order to participate in the national Forest Legacy Program (FLP), Michigan must conduct an Assessment of Need (AON)

The AON contains an assessment of the forests and forest uses, a description of forces that are converting forests to nonforest uses, describes Eligibility Criteria developed by the State to identify important forest areas to be proposed as Forest Legacy Areas (FLA), and acts as a guide to implementation of FLP in the State

The AON provides an analysis regarding what defines "threatened" and "environmentally important forests". The AON also outlines a how Michigan's Forest Legacy Program will evaluate and prioritize proposed projects. Michigan's AON includes relevant information about both public and private lands, addresses the issue of how best to maintain the integrity of forestlands for future generations as well as addressing a number of pertinent forest land issues identified by the State.

Michigan's AON is based on an earlier report developed for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources by the Michigan Chapter of the Nature Conservancy entitled, "State of Michigan Forest Legacy Program, Assessment of Need," published in December, 2002. Both reports were developed in consultation with Michigan State Forest Stewardship Advisory Committee and approved by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Introduction and Background

1. Overview of Forested Areas
   Includes:
   
   1. Size and Location of Forested Areas in Michigan
   2. Cultural Heritage and Social Value
   3. Physical Make-up of Michigan Forests
   4. Michigan's Landscape Ecosystems
   • TABLE 1. Forest Communities in Michigan
   
   
2. Evaluation of Features of Michigan Forest Lands
   Includes:
   
   1. Aesthetic and Scenic Values
   2. Important Wildlife Habitat
      1. Rare Natural Communities TABLE 2. Globally-Imperiled Forest Communities of Michigan
      2. Rare Species
      3. Declining and Vulnerable Species
      4. Wide-Ranging Species
      5. Winter Deer Yards Map
      6. Summary and Assessment
   3. Geology and Outstanding Geologic Features
   4. Soils and Groundwater Recharge Areas
   5. Minerals Resource Potential
   
   
3. Timbering and Michigan Forest Land
   Includes:
   
   1. Timber Management Trends
   2. Timber Product Output
   3. Economic Importance of Forest in Michigan
   
   
4. Outdoor Recreation and Tourism
   Includes:
   
   1. Importance of Outdoor Recreation in Michigan
   2. Forest Conservation and Outdoor Recreation
   
   
5. Land Tenure
   
   
6. Threats to Michigan Forests
   
   
7. Existing Conservation Measures
   Includes:
   
   1. Commercial Forest Program
   2. Forest Stewardship
   3. Forest Land Enhancement Program
   4. Enhanced Community Fire Protection
   5. Cooperative Protection
   6. Urban and Community Forestry
   7. Conservation Reserve Program
   8. Wetland Reserve Program
   9. Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program
   10. Environmental Quality Incentives Program
   11. Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund
   12. National Forests in Michigan
   13. State Forests of Michigan
   14. Land Trusts Active in Michigan
   
   
8. Need for Forest Legacy Program
   Includes:
   
   1. Summary
   2. Goals and Objectives of the Forest Legacy Program in Michigan
   
   
9. Identification of Applicable Eligibility Criteria
   Includes:
   
   1. Eligibility Criteria for Forest Legacy Areas
   2. Process for Identification of Forest Legacy Areas
   
   
10. Proposed Forest Legacy Areas
    Includes:
    
    • TABLE 3. Total Acreage of Five Proposed Forest Legacy Areas
    • TABLE 4. Public Ownership in Proposed Forest Legacy Areas
      
      
    • The Upper Peninsula
    • The Northeast Lower Peninsula
    • The Northwest Lower Peninsula
    • The Southwest Lower Peninsula
    • The Southern Michigan Recharge Area
    
    
11. Means for Protection of Forest Legacy Area Tracts
    
    
12. Criteria and Process for Determining Priority of Acquistitions
    Includes:
    
    1. Forest Legacy Project Selection Criteria
    2. Forest Legacy Project Selection Process
    
    
13. Public Involvement; see also Appendices
    
    
14. References
    
    
15. Appendices
    • Appendix A: Stakeholder Participation - Invitation
    • Appendix B: Forest Legacy Program Information
    • Appendix C: Proposed Project Information Form
    • Appendix D: Minimum Eligibility Requirements for Participation in Michigan Forest Legacy Program
    • Appendix E: Prioritization Checklist for Parcel Evaluation
    • Appendix F: List of Rights Wishing to be Retained by Landowner
    • Appendix G: Michigan Private Forest Land Assessment Survey & Results
    • Appendix H: News Release for Public Hearings
    • Appendix I: Minutes from 10/10/02 FSP SAC meeting Accepting Current Draft AON
    • Appendix J: Stewardship Advisory Committee Approval of Final AON
    • Appendix K: Forest Legacy Draft AON Mailing List
    • Appendix L: Forest Legacy Information Mailing List
    • Appendix M: Written Comments Received
    • Appendix N: News Articles Regarding Forest Legacy
    
    

To download the Assessment of Need Report in its entirety click here. Please note the file size for this large document is 6.84MB.

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