Jack Pilon
Forest Planner
Michigan DNR
Grayling
pilonj@michigan.gov

Public agencies or corporations that own tracts of forest land are required to meet the needs of the persons who own the land while maintaining the overall integrity of the ecosystem. Citizens, who own the public land, expect to have the forest provide for a wide range of activities such as camping, mushroom hunting, bird watching, firewood gathering, forest products harvesting, and many other uses. Corporations who own large tracts of forestland may primarily be in the business of timber production, but are concerned with the overall health of the forest ecosystem and plan accordingly. Most corporate land is open to public recreational use.

Providing for a wide array of forest uses and products require planning. Agencies and corporations hire forest planners to develop plans on how the forests are going to be managed over the long term based on the long and short term goals and objectives of those who own the land - be it the citizens who own public land or the stockholders who own the corporate land.

Forest planners typically are experienced in resource management and have a broad knowledge of the workings of the agency or company that employs them. Planners work in collaboration with other resource specialists and have to be consensus builders in order to develop plans that meet the balanced needs of the stakeholders involved. The plans they develop provide guidance and direction for those who implement management on the ground.