Michigan Director of Natural Resources names members of 10-person Timber Advisory Council who will work with new state forester
Lorena Madrigal
LANSING, Michigan
,
December 6, 2011
(press release)
–
An advisory council to assist the Michigan Departments of Natural Resources and Agriculture and Rural Development has been named by DNR Director Rodney Stokes today. The Timber Advisory Council (TAC) will work closely with the new state forester, who will be hired by the DNR in the near future.
"Michigan has great potential to carefully and judiciously utilize its natural resources to benefit the state's economy," Governor Rick Snyder said. "I am confident this council will work cooperatively with the two departments to establish programs that promote Michigan's forest products industry."
The 10-person council will focus on state forestry and land use policy to achieve the best, most prudent utilization of forest industry resources. The TAC will assist the state in implementing programs that will sustain economic and environmental best practices for harvesting timberland. The TAC will examine timber use for logging and lumber, pulp and paper, fuels and other forestland uses.
"Growing Michigan's natural resources-based economy through wise and sustainable use is one of my top priorities," said DNR Director Rodney Stokes. "I look forward to working with the TAC on this mission, which will focus on Michigan's forestry resources."
J.R. Richardson of Ontonagon, currently a member of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission, will chair the council. Richardson currently works for TRAXYS Corp., a company invested in renewable energy production in the Upper Peninsula.
Other members of the council include:
Michigan's forests and forest products industry contribute more than $14 billion annually to the state's economy and support more than 136,000 jobs.
For more information about Michigan's forests, visit the DNR's website at www.michigan.gov/dnr.
* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistrubte or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.