Northern Lake State Pine Forests Face Turning Point

The red pine forests of Wisconsin—a cornerstone of the state's economy and ecology—are at a significant turning point as they reach peak harvest age. Nearly 100 years ago, the Civilian Conservation Corps planted many of these trees, and their harvest marks a natural rotation in forestry. However, the future of these forests now depends on the decisions of public and private landowners, who must navigate the challenges and opportunities of this important transition in the state’s forest ecosystem.

A Legacy of Forest Management

Red pine, often called Norway pine, has been a vital species in Wisconsin's forest economy. Many of these stands, planted nearly a century ago, are ready for harvest. There are currently over 650,000 acres of red pine plantation in Wisconsin, according to Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) data compiled by Ryan Heiderman, Forest Inventory Analyst at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Over 35% of this planted red pine ranges from 51-80 years old, which is generally considered the best age of harvest for maximizing production and economic benefit.

The timeline for forest management spans many years, with this significant turnover for red pine plantations in Wisconsin forests beginning about a decade ago and expected to continue for another ten years. “I like to say that forestry is just farming…we're working with crops. Our rotation ages are just a lot longer than our soybeans," said Rebekah Luedtke, Executive Director of The Wisconsin Forest County Association (WCFA).

But not all of these plantations will be harvested. There is a patchwork of private, county, state, and federal land ownership in Wisconsin, each with different management plans and goals. FIA data shows about 61% of planted red pine acres belong to private owners and about a quarter fall under state or local and county ownership. According to Greg Edge, Forest Ecologist and Silviculturist with the Wisconsin DNR, about three-quarters of public red pine plantations will be replanted, while on private lands, less than 20% are expected to be replanted. “Just on public lands, there are thousands of acres that could potentially be planted,” said Edge.

The Replanting Challenge

The future of these forests, however, depends on overcoming today’s challenges with replanting red pine. “The biggest hurdle that the counties are bumping into right now is after they take that final harvest of pine: how do we get that back into pine? Red pine is a big species in our state, and we want to see pine back on the landscape,” said Luedtke.

But in current conditions, red pine does not easily re-establish itself. Edge explains this is due to the species requiring high amounts of sunlight, which you don’t typically see in red pine forests where fire is suppressed. Instead, more shade-tolerant species of oak and white pine are growing in the understory of these red pine plantations. These species may become more dominant on the landscape if landowners decide not to invest in red pine reforestation efforts.

To return the landscape to red pine after a plantation is harvested, the landowner must undertake the significant process of site preparation, which has become more difficult in recent years. “I would say 90% of our issues are coming from labor shortage, and particularly a lack of interest in the site prep contracting world,” said Luedtke.

During this process, large equipment is typically brought in to disk up the land and expose soil suitable for young seedlings to grow. “That is very hard work. It’s tough on the body; it’s tough on equipment. Trying to entice somebody to get into that game is very challenging,” said Luedtke. “It's not a problem that's going away.”

There is also the cost involved with replanting. “You need seeds to grow seedlings. You need people to plant trees…Just like a lot of industries, we have had our supply chain problems too,” explained Edge.

According to Edge, from site preparation to planting, it costs an estimated $500-$800 per acre to return harvested landscapes to red pine. With thousands of acres of red pine potentially being replanted, the total price tag is expected to reach millions of dollars, with the cost distributed across the different landowners.

Collaborative Solutions for the Future

To navigate the challenges and reduce the cost burden, effective forest management requires coordination between government agencies, private landowners, and other stakeholders.

The WCFA was established in part to provide space for this collaboration. After massive timber operations in the 1920s left vast areas of land unsuitable for farming and caused economic hardship for many counties, the county forest system was created to maximize public benefits from these lands, providing sustainable economic and ecological resources. Today, WCFA provides a collaborative framework, allowing counties to navigate the complexities of forest management under a unified state statute, rather than operating in isolation. "It's a pretty unique system in the States, and there's nothing else like it in the nation," explained Luedtke.

Luedtke acknowledged changes in the forest products market, including the shut-down of the Verso paper mill in Wisconsin Rapids, have also placed a particular strain on private landowners.

“At the end of the day, what we say to private landowners is: what is good for you is good for us, and what's good for us is good for you, whether it be between public, private, or state stakeholders. As long as we have healthy markets that support all of us, that's good.”

The Wisconsin DNR also relies on public involvement to manage forests, including an annual call for red pine cones collected by the public. These wild-collected cones allow state nurseries to maintain a seed supply for replanting efforts.

This collaboration among state, county, and private stakeholders is key to managing the transition and maintaining one of Wisconsin's valuable natural resources. The success of replanting efforts will determine the future of the state's red pine forests, with today’s decisions shaping the landscape—and the legacy—of Wisconsin's northern woods for another century.