Warm weather ushers in seasonal changes in the Upper Peninsula, and forests host a bounty of natural products that people gather each year. The Hiawatha National Forest reminds visitors that a permit is required to harvest forest products for commercial purposes, and that there are restrictions on the type and quantities of materials that can be gathered.
“The public plays a vital role in helping us manage the forest wisely. Commercial permits are one instrument that allows us to understand how forest products are used, giving us valuable insight into how we can maintain healthy ecosystems,” explained Rapid River Deputy District Ranger Linda Helm.
Permits also help prevent damage to natural resources. “Cutting saplings has consequences to the sustainability of the forest ecosystem, not only in the present but for the future,” said Forest Silviculturist Jerry Jordan. “Every timber plot in the forest is meticulously surveyed and planned for, in many cases 50 years in advance. Unauthorized harvesting can not only offset careful planning, but also degrade the ecosystem.”
In addition to environmental consequences, the 36 Code of Federal Regulations classifies timber theft as a Class B misdemeanor and could result in fines of $5,000 and six months’ imprisonment for an individual, or $10,000 for a legal entity other than an individual, or both (16 U.S.C. § 551 and 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559 and 3571).
Certain products, like berries, acorns, nuts, and leeks, can be harvested without a permit in reasonable quantities for personal use from areas that are open to the public and free of restrictions.
To learn more about gathering forest products and commercial permits, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/hiawatha/passes-permits/forestproducts.
To obtain a commercial gathering permit or inquire about restricted areas, contact your local district office in Munising, Rapid River, or Saint Ignace. Office information is listed at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/hiawatha/about-forest/offices.
To support sustainable gathering, report suspected theft of commercial quantities of forest products to the Forest Supervisor’s Office at (906) 428-5800.
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