Wisconsin Forests at Risk: Engaging Wisconsinites in Another Century of Forest Conservation

We are proud to announce a new paper in our Opportunities Now series.

Left to right: Upson Lake Fall Forest. Photo Credit: Colleen Matula. Log deck and forwarder in Stockbridge-Munsee Tribal Forest. Photo Credit: Paul Koll. Thompson Family Forest. Photo Credit: Nancy Bozek

Wisconsin’s forests have long enriched our state’s economy and quality of life. With close to half of the land in Wisconsin today (over 17.5 million acres) covered by forests, our forests provide a wealth of benefits. In addition to over $37 billion in economic contributions from the forest products sector and the more than 123,000 related family supporting jobs, our forests protect and produce clean air and water, support global biodiversity, help mitigate effects of climate change, support jobs and recreation, and shape our way of life. Yet, just when we need healthy, diverse, and productive forests more than ever, our forests are facing serious threats.

In December 2024, we published our Opportunities Now paper: Wisconsin Forests at Risk: Engaging Wisconsinites in Another Century of Forest Conservation.

In this paper, we summarize key threats facing Wisconsin’s forests today and offer ways our state can move toward solutions. This paper represents the collective effort of a team of forest and conservation professionals. These contributors have diverse backgrounds and bring unique perspectives to this effort. We also solicited outside review from many people representing different organizations and sectors. Lead contributors to this report include: Fred Clark, Matt Dallman, Ron Eckstein, Jonathan Gilbert, Tom Hittle, Paul Koll, Colleen Matula, Linda Parker, Adena Rissman, Andy Stoltman, and Paul Strong.

Read or download the full report here.

This science-based report was written especially for policymakers, community leaders, investors, forest landowners and managers, and all who are interested in healthy productive forests and trees in our communities. This report aims to spark public conversations to address these key challenges: 

• declines in forest productivity and forest health, 
• changes in the economics of forest management, and 
• changes in forest ownership and owner objectives. 

Taken together, these challenges threaten our forests as well as the forest-based economy and the many benefits of forests and forest recreation enjoyed by all forest users. They will also create deep ripple effects across the state’s natural environment and human communities. We can no longer assume that Wisconsin forests will continue to predictably and consistently provide for us in the same ways without new investments and new commitments to forest conservation.

Register for the Wisconsin Forests at Risk webinar on January 15, 2025

Join us for a free webinar with our forest experts on January 15, 2025 from 12:00-1:00pm CT.

This report provides a broad overview of the threats to Wisconsin’s forests, yet it is also a call to action. One opportunity to act and engage in public conversations on this topic will be during our webinar on Wisconsin Forests at Risk on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 from 12:00-1:00pm CT. Attendees will hear from our panel of forestry and conservation experts. This interactive webinar will be a forum to share experiences and ideas to address the challenges facing our forests.

Register via Zoom here.

It is time to renew Wisconsin’s leadership in protecting and managing our forests for all the benefits they provide. A century ago, following the devastation of the Great Cutover, Wisconsinites across the political spectrum came together to support public and private investment in our forests. Through those efforts, Wisconsin became a national leader in forest conservation. Together, with a renewed commitment to engagement and public investment in Wisconsin forests, we can help restore, maintain, and grow these benefits to meet our current and future needs. 

Fall canopy in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, photo by Linda Parker

About the Opportunities Now paper series:

Opportunities Now is an issue paper series published by Wisconsin’s Green Fire that summarizes the science and background of key conservation and environmental issues and makes policy recommendations that support pro-conservation outcomes. Each of the papers in our Opportunities Now series is the product of an analysis of current literature, interviews with agency staff and experts, and the consensus of our subject matter teams. We invite policymakers, conservation organizations, and concerned community members to use and distribute Opportunities Now papers with attribution and for noncommercial purposes.

Our other Opportunities Now papers include:

• PFAS in Wisconsin Drinking Water: A Summary of Current Detections and their Implications for Wisconsin
• Imbalance of Power: How Wisconsin is Failing Citizens in Conserving Natural Resources and Protecting our Environment 
• Meeting Wisconsin’s Deer Conservation Challenges
• Wetlands and Waterways in Wisconsin: Navigating Changes to the Federal Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule
• The Future is Now- Creating a 21st Century Energy Policy
• PFAS – Forever Chemicals in Wisconsin
• Creating a Shared Vision for Wolves in Wisconsin
• An Analysis of Priority Issues and Actions for Wisconsin’s Natural Resources

Find more Wisconsin’s Green Fire papers under Our Publications. You can find like Opportunities Now papers, Conservation Bulletins, literature reviews, and other special reports.

Wabikon Lake and extensive mature forest in Forest County, photo by Ron Eckstein

Contact us with your questions or thoughts about our work on science-based conservation!

Did our work on forests, forestry, the forest economy or other topics mentioned here inspire or inform you? Please consider supporting our work with a donation to Wisconsin’s Green Fire. An annual gift of any amount makes you a member. Thank you!