September 27, 2006
LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has signed legislation that will continue the state’s efforts to modernize management policies for the state’s forestland, help create jobs in the timber industry, and protect and keep access available to the state’s natural resources enjoyed by hunters, fishermen, and outdoor enthusiasts. The six-bill package will encourage additional timber harvest through financial incentives to private landowners.
“Michigan is blessed with an abundance of natural resources that we must sustain and protect,” said Granholm. “This legislative package will ensure that Michigan’s timber industry will grow, thrive, and create jobs while ensuring that we use our resources wisely for the benefit of future generations.”
Michigan has more than 19 million acres of forestland. Despite this abundance, less timber is harvested in Michigan than other Midwestern states that have fewer acres of forest. As a result, wood costs in Michigan are high, putting forestry jobs and the manufacturing jobs our forests support at risk.
The six-bill package signed by the governor addresses this problem by:
• providing property tax relief to private landowners who harvest their land for timber according to long-term, sustainable management plans;
• changing the way commercial forestland is taxed, giving private owners a clearer, more predictable tax structure;
• requiring that commercial forestland be accessible to hunters and fishermen in exchange for the reduced tax status;
• encouraging development of management plans for private forestland to ensure its sustainability.
Senate Bills 912-914 and 917 were sponsored by Senators Gerald Van Woerkom (R-Norton Shores), Tony Stamas (R-Midland), Jason Allen (R-Traverse City), and Shirley Johnson (R-Troy), respectively. House Bill 5454 was sponsored by Representative Kevin Elsenheimer (R-Bellaire), and House Bill 5455 was sponsored by Representative Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland).
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