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Forestry
Forest Resources: The forests of the Upper Chippewa Basin are now mostly aspen, northern hardwood (Maple, birch, and Basswood), and lowland conifers. A combination of disturbances, including logging and wildfires, have changed the composition of the Basin's forests since pre-settlement times. Historically, the Basin grew some of the state's best White and Red Pine but this was logged over in the early part of the 20th Century. Following the pine, loggers cut the hemlock for its bark and then finally the hardwood. After the logging was done, homesteading farmers brought the plow and wildfire to the land. The latter accounted for over 500,000 acres burned annually between 1870 and 1930.
The plundering of the virgin forests led to the foresight shown by people like Aldo Leopold and Wisconsin's first state forester, who are responsible for the bountiful forests we enjoy in Wisconsin now. For a great history of forestry in Wisconsin, inquire about the video Forest Story: Restoring Wisconsin's Treasure from your local DNR forestry office. This program aired on Wisconsin Public Television in 2000-2001. Land managers today are managing our ecosystems to protect biodiversity by creating and maintaining a diversity of habitats.
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