Wisconsin’s northern forests are iconic and economically vital. The state’s forest products industry generates $41.4 billion in total economic contributions and supports 125,000 jobs, making it one of the state’s leading sectors. Wisconsin’s 2.5 million acres of county forest are owned by local governments – more than either the state or federal government owns.

County forests are public land that pays its own way. Timber revenues flow directly to local communities, trail networks bring tourism dollars to local businesses, and large areas of contiguous forest support biodiversity, clean water, and a healthy climate.

Most privately owned forestland in northern Wisconsin is enrolled in the Managed Forest Law program, a widely regarded model for sustainable timber management. But 70% of those lands are closed to the public, and local governments see little revenue from harvests on private land. County forests are different: they’re open to everyone, and timber revenue stays in the community. The County Forest portion of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program helps make that possible, providing matching grants to county governments to purchase land that supports working forests, recreation, and prevents fragmentation.

County forests are also home to some of Wisconsin’s best trail networks. Mountain bikers and skiers flock to Nine Mile County Forest near Wausau and to Levis-Trow Mounds Recreational Area in Clark County. In Florence County, the Blue Ox Trail Riders, a volunteer group, maintain 180 miles of snowmobile trails. These trails exist because of sustained investment in public lands by counties, the state, and the federal government, leveraging programs like Knowles-Nelson.

Whether it’s generating local revenue, keeping trails open, or holding forests together as timber companies sell off their Wisconsin lands, Knowles-Nelson helps county forests work for all of us.