Researchers are using digital technology to improve forest management strategies.

Michigan State University scientists have employed a 3-D mapping technology called LIDAR—which stands for light detection and ranging—to make a digital model of a pine plantation.

Dave Carter is an assistant professor of Silviculture at MSU. He says LIDAR can survey areas faster than foresters.

“In terms of area, that person may only cover like 1% to 5% of the total stand, whereas a LIDAR measurement would conceivably cover like the whole stand aerially, and maybe accurately count and measure 90% to 95% of the trees in some cases.”

After LIDAR scans are uploaded, an AI model simulates different management strategies and finds the most effective ways to remove or apply treatments to trees, or even predict the effects of tree thinning.

“And we were just trying to demonstrate that that workflow was possible, where you could take that simulated thinning, pass it off to a model, have it project what the future yield would be as a result of your thinning, and then do that a number of times and figure out which method is best.”

Carter says AI can be faster and more precise than traditional methods of thinning, saving time and money. He says this technology could eventually be used by tree farmers as well as conservationists

This story is a part of WDET’s ongoing series, the Detroit Tree Canopy Project.

Mt. Arvon, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, is the highest natural point in the state.

It’s also a draw for prospective developers.

But the private company Lyme Great Lakes Timberlands aims to keep that peak pristine with only minimal cutting for maintenance.

It’s part of a conservation easement affecting about 73,000 acres of land in the area.

Lyme’s co-General Manager Amber Marchel says the effort is a balancing act between protecting forestland and safeguarding Michigan’s logging industry.

(Interview edited for length and clarity.)

Amber Marchel: This is a working forest conservation easement. So not only is Mt. Arvon involved but there’s actually a larger set of acreages, 73,000 roughly, that’s going to be protected by this. And Mt. Arvon is one of the great scenic parts of it. But there’s a lot of other types of habitats as well. This includes things like moose habitat, deer wintering complexes, a magnitude of rivers, lakes, streams. And then also protection around the Yellow Dog River Corridor and special trout streams as well. This conservation easement was put into place between Lyme and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources with the goal of ensuring it stays as a working forest into perpetuity. To put it plainly, it’s not that the land is being locked up, it’s just making sure that it’s a forest forever. And then still have it actively managed and accessible by the public for numerous types of recreation, things like fishing, hunting, kayaking, ATV and snowmobile use. All will be protected under this easement.

Quinn Klinefelter, WDET News: Why did you guys decide to do this?

AM: First and foremost, it’s gonna protect this large swath of land forever and keep it as a working forest. We hear a lot about folks moving to Michigan from other parts of the country. There’s definitely an increased real estate pressure in this area. It’s not uncommon for large blocks of land to be parceled up over time and that makes management more difficult from both a forestry perspective and from a wildlife landscape level perspective. So this project ensures that it’s never gonna be subdivided, never gonna be fragmented, it’s always gonna be kept as a working forest. What does that do? It balances conservation and the working forest economy here in Michigan. It’s gonna support local mills, logging contractors and the regional forest economy, which is about a $27 billion-dollar industry in Michigan. So it’s a big deal up here and that’s what this forest conservation easement aims to protect. It’s going to make sure that those jobs and the forest that they’re tied to remain together into perpetuity.

QK: How will it protect jobs? If you’re going to have a certain area that should be left alone so that it becomes old growth forest, then no one’s able to use that for logging or other timber-related things.

AM: There are parts of the easement that are going to have less active management. One of those areas is Mt. Arvon specifically. That’s a very rare location. It’s Michigan’s highest natural point. There are certain protections up there that’s gonna really minimize management. So that might seem counterintuitive, thinking how can we protect jobs if areas aren’t gonna be harvested? But that’s a very small portion of this 73,000 acres in total. So the way that it facilitates those jobs over time is that it makes sure it’s a large block of land. You’re not dealing with fragmentation where maybe 40 or 80 acres gets sold off, therefore making even access and very simple things to facilitate timber management difficult over time. This ensures that whole block is together in perpetuity. There are parts of the easement that do limit management to some extent, but they’re pretty isolated. And one of those is on the top of Mt. Arvon, to ensure we protect some of the scenic value and the overlook area.

QK: President Trump had enacted tariffs on Canadian lumber, which many U.S. home builders relied on. He said they could make it up by harvesting more from U.S. forests. Given that, has there been any reaction from the logging industry in your area to maintaining this forest on Mt. Arvon or to conservation moves in general?

AM: For the forest products economy here in Michigan, we’re actually quite fortunate. It’s still a struggle with rising costs, especially fuel as of late. But we do have a pretty robust forest products industry here. We’re very fortunate to have a lot of sawmills within striking distance of this conservation easement. Not only sawmills, but pulp mills are especially important. There’s entire regions of the country where they don’t have that luxury. So, although it can still be a difficult industry to operate in at times, the Great Lakes states are pretty good spots to practice forestry. And we feel very lucky to have the supply chain that we do, which is another reason why it pays to keep this forest land together into perpetuity. It helps keep these local mills and contractors going for the foreseeable future.

QK: In regards to the Mt. Arvon area, has there been any pushback from the logging industry about you guys not allowing anybody to go there?

AM: I haven’t heard of any pushback in terms of the light touch management on top of Mt. Arvon, mainly because it is such an isolated area. I think people understand when we’re talking 73,000 acres versus that immediate location on top of Mt. Arvon proper. It really is a small portion of this footprint. And you have to weigh your options. What’s most valuable? Is it timber management, recreation, aesthetics? And Mt. Arvon is just so special, it does warrant a different type of management. So no, I don’t think there is any pushback. If anything, folks are excited that it is going to be publicly accessible into perpetuity. Because, I’ll be honest, the real estate pressure’s there. We’ve had people call us looking to buy sections of land and some of those sections including Mt. Arvon. This just ensures this block is put together forever so people can continue to enjoy the views up there.

QK: People have wanted to buy places on the top of Mt. Arvon?

AM: You would be shocked, but yes. Again, the real estate pressure is definitely ramping up in the area. Sometimes you might hear Michigan being coined a climate refuge. People are realizing not only our property values are more affordable but we also kind of have less environmental issues. Knock on wood, we don’t have hurricanes, wildfires, things of that nature. So Michigan’s kind of a safe bet, if you will. And you take a look at the map, we’re surrounded by water. So yeah, it’s not uncommon to get phone calls from folks in cities from across the country who are looking to buy large swaths of land. And that can change things up here. It can be easy to take this for granted, but we have a lot of publicly accessible land. And our goal is to keep it that way.