Timber industry of Wisconsin's Northwoods adapts to accommodate threatened species, with selected harvesting restrictions at certain times of year

Audrey Dixon

LOS ANGELES , July 4, 2014 (Industry Intelligence Inc.) – Wisconsin’s timber industry is already changing the way it does things to help conserve one threatened species, and according to Florence Mining News, there is more than one such species to worry about inhabiting the Northwoods.

The threatened wood turtle has already impacted two of Florence County’s spring timber sales, with certain harvesting operations prohibited at particular timber of year.

To avoid accidentally killing the turtles, which are abundant in the county, harvesting cannot be done within 250 ft. of a water body from March 15 to Oct. 31, and within 1,000 ft. between May 15 and Sept. 14.

Forestry and Parks Administrator Pat Smith said most of the county’s timber is logged in the summer, so the restrictions already impact on forestry business.

Florence County’s forest comprises more than 36,000 acres spanning the gamut of uses from timber production and habitat provision to recreation and education, according to the Forestry and Parks website. The county's first timber sale was made in 1941, and sales have been made annually to date, with the exception of 1943.

The forest plays a major role in the Florence County economy by providing employment in the production and manufacture of forest products.

The primary source of this article is Florence Mining News, Florence, Wisconsin, July 3, 2014. To view the original article, click here.

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