Each year, DNR personnel inventory and evaluate about one-tenth of the state forest. The information gathered includes the health, quality and quantity of all vegetation; wildlife and fisheries habitat needs; archaeological sites; mineral, oil and gas activities; recreational use; wildfire potential and social factors, including proximity to roads and neighborhoods; and use on adjacent lands, public and private. Proposed treatments then are designated to ensure the sustainability of the resources and ecosystems.

"The open house is an opportunity for the public to review proposed treatments and provide input toward final decisions on those treatments,"

said DNR Forest, Mineral and Fire Management Division Chief Lynne Boyd. "It also provides the public an opportunity to talk with foresters and biologists about issues of interest."

Each forest management unit is divided into smaller units or compartments to facilitate better administration of the resources. The Atlanta unit open house and compartment review will focus on compartments in Bearinger, Allis, Ocqueoc, Bismarck, Pulawski and Moltke townships in Presque Isle County; Maple Ridge, Wilson and Alpena townships in Alpena County; Montmorency, Hillman, Vienna and Albert townships in Montmorency County and Benton Township in Cheboygan County.

Formal compartment review to finalize prescriptions for these areas is scheduled for 8:30 a.m., Oct. 19, at the Atlanta Unit office.