Michigan has 19.3 million acres of public and private forestland, and 4 million of those acres are state forests managed by the DNR for public use and enjoyment, wildlife habitat, forest health and forest products. The Department of Natural Resources is committed to ensuring Michigan's forests are sustainably managed and healthy for centuries to come.

To guarantee the DNR is on the right path and as required by the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, every 10 years a new state management plan is created to guide and outline forest management activities. This draft plan was collaboratively developed by DNR forestry, wildlife, fisheries and recreation planning staff. The state forest management plan is part of an overall strategy outlined in the Statewide Forest Action Plan, a federally-required document with strategies for managing all 19.3 million acres of Michigan's public and private forests.