2201 - FORESTS - SCHOOL AND MUNICIPAL
Issued January 1, 1977

FORESTS - SCHOOL AND MUNICIPAL

Forestry

Act 217, Public Acts of 1931, the Municipal or Community Forest Act, authorizes counties, townships, cities, villages and school districts to establish and maintain forests.  It also provides for commissions to supervise such work, provides for the sale of State lands for such purposes, and places a limitation on the expense of such work.  The Department of Natural Resources is authorized to convey tax reverted land to schools and municipalities for forest purposes; the amount limited to the area needed for educational purposes.  Forty acres is generally considered sufficient for a school forest, which should be near enough to the school for maximum use.  The intent of the program is that school children, and others, shall learn about the forest and its management by actually engaging in the work rather than observing, so assistance from forest experts should be confined to stimulating interest and participation rather than actually doing the work.

The Department shall cooperate fully with schools and local communities in the establishment of public forests for demonstration and educational purposes.  State land may be sold or conveyed to schools and municipalities for such purposes, forty acres generally considered as the maximum.  Deeds of State land for school and community forests may be issued for the consideration of one dollar.  Native pine seedlings, in limited amounts, may be furnished at no charge for planting on school forests where title to the land is held by the school.  Departmental foresters shall work with local people involved in these forests in an instructional and advisory capacity but shall not actually manage the forest.  The Department shall keep complete records of all school and municipal forests.

Procedure is contained in Forestry Division manual - Section 10.