A new cooperative effort to fund more management on the ChequamegonNicolet National Forest is bearing fruit.
Harvest has begun on a timber sale in Forest County as part of a stewardship agreement. That means money earned from the sale will go towards conservation and management on the forest, instead of to the general budget.
As Director of the nonprofit Sustainable Resources Initiative Don Peterson explains, it’s thanks to the efforts of a group called the Stewardship Steering Committee.
“Anything that’s backlogged on the Chequamegon-Nicolet, we are looking to help with getting those accomplished.”
Groups represented include the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, Great Lakes Timber Professionals, and the Ruffed Grouse Society, as well as state and county forest representatives.
Peterson says the sale negotiated in Forest County will net more than $200,000 for work on the Chequamegon-Nicolet.
“We will hopefully get more timber going to the sawmills, that will help jobs. We will get more work done on roads and on wildlife habitat that will benefit the citizens of Wisconsin.
The nonprofit and its partners are also contributing 20 percent of the project value through in-kind work.
Connor Forest Management Products bought the timber sale.
