Section 324.52502 - Management of state forest; manner; duties of department(1) The department shall manage the state forest in a manner that is consistent with principles of sustainable forestry.(2) In fulfilling the requirements of subsection (1), the department shall do all of the following:(a) Manage forests with consideration of their economic, social, and environmental values by doing all of the following:(i) Broadening the implementation of sustainable forestry by employing an array of economically, environmentally, and socially sound practices in the conservation of forests, using the best scientific information available.(ii) Promoting the efficient utilization of forest resources.(iii) Broadening the practice of sustainable forestry by cooperating with forestland owners, wood producers, and consulting foresters.(iv) Where appropriate, promoting working forests for the production of forest products and ecological value.(v) Actively managing for enhanced wildlife habitat.(b) Conserve and protect forestland by doing all of the following: (i) Ensuring long-term forest productivity and conservation of forest resources through prompt reforestation, soil conservation, afforestation, and other measures.(ii) Protecting the water quality in streams, lakes, and other water bodies in a manner consistent with the department's best management practices for water quality.(iii) Managing the quality and distribution of wildlife habitats, contributing to the conservation of biological diversity, implementing stand and landscape-level measures that promote habitat diversity and the conservation of forest plants and animals, including aquatic flora and fauna and unique ecosystems, while giving due consideration to loss of economic values.(iv) Managing forests to mitigate or minimize impacts from wildfire, pests, diseases, and other damaging agents.(v) Managing areas of ecologic, geologic, cultural, or historic significance in a manner that recognizes their special qualities.(vi) Managing activities in high conservation value forests by maintaining or enhancing the attributes that define those forests, while giving due consideration to loss of economic values.(c) Communicate to the public by doing all of the following: (i) Publicly reporting the department's progress in fulfilling its commitment to sustainable forestry.(ii) Informing the public of the positive aspects of managed forests.(iii) Providing opportunities for persons to participate in the commitment to sustainable forestry.(iv) Preparing, implementing, and keeping current a management plan that clearly states the long-term objectives of management and the means of achieving those objectives.(d) Promote continual improvement in the practice of sustainable forestry and monitor, measure, and report performance in achieving sustainable forestry.(e) Consider the local community surrounding state forestland by doing both of the following:(i) Requiring that forest management plans and operations comply with applicable federal and state laws.(ii) Requiring that forest management operations maintain or enhance the long-term social and economic well-being of forest workers and local communities.Amended by 2018, Act 238,s 16, eff. 9/25/2018.Added by 2004, Act 125, s 2, eff. 5/28/2004.