Working to Protect Montana’s Forests Through Responsible Management

Timber harvesting is a vital tool for forest management and, when applied strategically and sustainably, can contribute to the health and safety of our forests, communities, and environment. Montana timber harvesters are dedicated stewards of the state’s forests and are committed to responsible forest management practices.

Through strategic, sustainable timber harvesting, we can:

• Maintain healthy, sustainable forests

o By removing dead and diseased trees, we can stop the spread of damaging bacteria, fungi, and insect infestations. Click to view the latest DNRC report on the health of Montana’s forest.

o Strategic removal of select trees also relieves excessive growth and overcrowding, providing a better environment for growing healthy trees and plants.

• Preserve and enhance wildlife habitat

o Strategic harvesting can protect biodiversity by helping provide and maintain the diverse habitats required for various plant and animal species to flourish. For more information: Biodiversity Guide for Montana Forests and Woodlots Owners, published by MSU Extension.

• Enhance woodland safety

o A well-planned harvest can leave the forest looking like it wasn’t harvested and provide a safer environment for campers, hikers, and recreationists. Removing dead and overgrown trees can also help protect vital infrastructure, including dams, roads, bridges, and power lines.

• Decrease forest fires risk

o By thinning overgrown forests and removing dead and fallen trees, fuel for wildfires is reduced. Also, timber harvesting can provide forest access, fuel breaks, and other strategies to help firefighters battle wildfires and protect our communities.

• Aid in the fight against climate change

o Substantial research is underway examining forest health, carbon emissions, and forest management. Dying trees, other vegetation, and wildfires emit a tremendous amount of carbon and other greenhouse gases. Growing trees and plants are carbon sequesters, meaning they remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. There is increasing evidence that carbon emissions can be reduced through forest management practices that sustain healthy, growing forests.

The Montana Timber Legacy Foundation is working to ensure generations of healthy forests for future Montanans through the establishment and education of timber harvesting best practices, standards, and principles that uphold its commitment to steward Montana's forests.

For more information about the Foundation’s mission, including its education initiatives, visit: Montana Timber Legacy Foundation is on a Mission!

You can support the Montana Timber Legacy Foundation’s educational initiatives through a direct tax-deductible contribution or donate by registering the Timber Heritage license plate the next time you register your vehicle!