At Land Between the Lakes, the mission of the Forest Service is to manage the forest for optimal yield of outdoor recreation and environmental education. Toward that goal, some trees need to be planted and some must be cut. Some tree cutting is common sense. For example, trees which are injured or dead and which may fall on visitors or infrastructure need to be cut. Cutting dangerous trees makes sense but other types of tree-cutting needs further explanation. Tree cutting at Land Between the Lakes is guided by science and conducted for purposes of ecosystem health and function.
In some cases, the trees which need to be cut for ecosystem health and function have real value for the wood they contain. The wood in this forest is valuable for construction, and a myriad of wood products. Land Between the Lakes uses the value of the wood in the forest by selling it to loggers. The loggers are allowed to cut, or harvest, only the trees which are designated for cutting and pay a fair market price for these products. All revenue from selling wood products remains here and is used to support roads and trails, facilities, and programs. In this way, doing what science recommends, in environmentally responsible ways, to improve and maintain ecosystem health and function, also provides important economic value for local communities while improving ecosystem health and function.
The harvesting of forest products is designed to maintain or improve other forest resources such as wildlife habitat, wildlife viewing and other recreation opportunities. These practices also provide an economic benefit to the local communities and create products the public utilizes.
Just as the technology of communication has changed considerably in the past few years, the management of timber resources has undergone a significant evolution as well. Environmental Analysis, site specific project planning, contract/project development, project implementation, and contract administration are tightly woven together to assure the benefits we receive from forest products are consistent with sound forest management practices that will carry our forests into the future.
Improving forest health, wildlife habitat and controlling non-native invasive species is on the forefront of management strategies of Land Between the Lakes.
There are no active timber sales or purchase opportunities at this time.
