Managing forests requires a bird's-eye view

Managers of northern Michigan forests may not see the birds for the trees -- or at least are in danger of losing sight of songbird neighborhoods when looking out for timber harvests. In a novel look at managing both the future's timber harvest while being mindful of the impact on key songbirds in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, researchers use a new forest simulation model for the first time to look at what timber-friendly hardwood regeneration can mean to bird habitat. And it's a long-range look, given that the time lag between forest management decisions and impact are generations.

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