Legacy

Legacy. . The initial price of the lumber boom was a deeply scarred wasteland. Ugly stumps replaced the majestic pine, fires spread additional destruction, and efforts to farm the land were disastrous due to the soil being infertile., But there is a brighter legacy too. The devastation impressed later generations with the value of their land...and stressed the need for reforestation programs so the land will continue to serve its people. These new forests springing from modern reforestation programs are the real living monuments to our brave forbearers of the northern Michigan woods., 1900s , When the lumbering ended, much of Michigan was reduced to bare land, abandoned sawmills, and dying towns. The beginning of the 20th century marked the start of the conservation movement in the United States. Vast forest preserves were created to protect the country's valuable natural resources., 1930s , Extensive reforestation efforts began. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's newly created Civilian Conservation Corps went to work. They planted millions of trees throughout Michigan and the rest of the country, dreaming that one day mighty forests would return., 2000 and Beyond , Today you are enjoying the Huron-Manistee National Forests. Forest Service employees are dedicated to managing America's forests to benefit the American people and protect precious natural resources for generations to come.