Wisconsin’s next Forest Action Plan is due in June 2020. During the development process for this plan, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) welcomes public comments. The Sierra Club John Muir Chapter encouraged members to submit comments to the most recent draft and we hope supporters will continue to voice their thoughts during future comment periods. We identified several key areas in which the current plan is lacking, including the protection of old growth forests, the use of native tree species, and deer management. 62 Sierra Club members and supporters commented on the draft plan, adding 23 personal comments.
The WDNR’S Forest Action Plan, which is required in order to receive federal forestry funding, is a long-term outline for forestry strategy. It creates a master plan for the next ten years by compiling relevant data, trends, and threats that will affect Wisconsin forests in the coming years. This includes, notably, recommendations for the investment of resources within the forestry community. Issues analyzed in the Forest Action Plan will receive more attention and resources in the next ten years, so it is crucial that the right issues are on the agenda.
Commenters noted that the current draft does not recognize the importance of old growth forests, which provide specific habitats that younger forests cannot. They also provide superior carbon sequestration, which is important in mitigating climate change. The protection of old growth forests is particularly meaningful to Sierra Club supporters, many of whom mentioned it specifically in their personal comments.
“As a (now retired) long-time member of WDNR's Ecosystem Management Team, I know that old growth forest areas are important ecological communities that are severely under-represented across our state. There MUST be a formal plan to identify and protect numerous old growth areas.” –Jeff, Madison WI
“In the age of Climate Change awareness, we should be doing all we can to mitigate our impact on the environment, and protecting old growth forests should be at the top of the list.” –Christine, Appleton WI
“Old growth forests – like old people – should be treasured because they can't be replaced!” –Renee, Milwaukee WI
The current draft also lacks an emphasis on native tree species in the discussion of urban forests. The use of native tree species, whenever possible, best supports native wildlife. Finally, our response considers the significant impact of deer on forests, noting that deer management and forest regeneration can go hand in hand. For instance, both the reduction of forest edge habitat and forest fragmentation have a large effect on deer populations.
The next ten years are a particularly important time to get this right as the climate crisis is an imminent threat. It is crucial that the next Forest Action Plan reflect this reality. Our response emphasized this concept: “As climate change is a growing threat to our ecosystems and biodiversity, the plan should strongly and explicitly consider climate change across all strategies, both in terms of mitigation and adaptation.” Many personal comments also reflected the urgency of climate change felt by residents across the state.
“The health of our natural world is in crisis, and therefore so is our own! Proper care of our remaining forests can help mitigate that. Thank you for all you can do to help make the world a safer, healthier place for all beings to live by protecting our trees.”–Anonymous, Hayward WI
The Forest Action Plan will hold another comment period soon. Stay tuned for the next Sierra Club petition to show your support for these critical elements of the 2020 Forest Action Plan!
Written by Katherine Scotty, Organizing Project Aide with the Sierra Club Wisconsin Chapter. Thumbnail image courtesy of Elvis Kennedy.