Sustainable Forestry Program
In 2007, the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy initiated a new sustainable forestry management program at Arcadia Dunes: The C.S. Mott Nature Preserve. Restoring and maintaining the ecological integrity and sustainability of Arcadia Dunes is the hallmark of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy's work at this protected area.
A truly sustainable landscape includes ecological sustainability, economic sustainability, and social sustainability. The Conservancy's forest management program fulfills the goal of sustainability in several ways:
- Through the ecological protection and restoration of forest habitat
- By harvesting forest products in a way that is compatible with recreational uses, social expectations, and ecological values
- By contributing to the economic well-being of our region by supporting forestry professionals, loggers, and sawmills
- By reinvesting income generated from forestry management into on-going land stewardship and land protection efforts
Approximately 1,200 acres of forest, consisting primarily of hardwoods and existing pine plantations, will have some level of management over the next ten years. Approximately 300 acres of the most diverse and ecologically intact portions of the Arcadia Dunes forest have been identified as "no-cut" zones. The forest will be monitored and re-evaluated every ten years to identify stands that may be harvested in the future.
Click here to view a PDF map showing the timber harvest schedule.
Click here to read the Arcadia Dunes Forestry Management Plan Summary.
"Pete's Woods" was the site of the first sustainable timber harvest in December 2007. At this location, the timber harvest occurred very close to a trail, making it an ideal location for the public to see a recent harvest. The Conservancy will provide interpretation and education opportunities at this site and others along the trail system. Great care is being taken to ensure that trees of interest along the trail, including those that provide either significant ecological or aesthetic value to the forest, will not be harvested.
Click here to view a map of the Arcadia Dunes trail system.
Some of the timber harvests planned over the next ten years will be visible from Joyfield Road between US-31 and M-22 in Benzie County. The Conservancy will use buffers and winter harvests in order to minimize scenic impacts. In some areas, harvest activities will be visible from the road or from a trail. The Conservancy will use these sites for education and demonstration to share information about the sustainable forestry program and its various ecological, social, and economic benefits.
While the purpose of the Conservancy's forestry management program is restoration, the organization anticipates income from its forestry management activities. Over the next ten years, at current market rates, the Conservancy estimates that income from forestry activities at Arcadia Dunes will total nearly $800,000. This income will be used to help support land management activities at Arcadia Dunes and other land protection efforts across the region.
If you have questions about the Conservancy's sustainable forestry management program please contact our Land Stewardship staff at 231-929-7911.
Click here to learn about the ways you can support the Conservancy's innovative land management efforts.
Click here for information on how you can help the Conservancy by volunteering your time.
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