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Unbeknownst to many people Chippewa Hills a beautiful trail system near Alpena will undergo a clear cut of approximately 50% of its trees this winter.
Many folks thought that this issue was addressed and defeated several years ago by locals with independent counter evidence to the DNR's assessment regarding oak wilt.
Sadly, the powers that be simply waited and went ahead with their plans.
Where was the public opportunity for feedback? Well it was published like everything else, with the general announcements and emails.
Only one local gave feedback to the DNR. Citing extensive research, and past efforts that invalidated the original assessment, but to no avail.
So, come midwinter DNR will continue with its plan irregardless of the obvious injustice, and half of an entire forest will be cut down based on antiquated protocol and science. To boot, a nice layer of GLYPHOSATE will be sprayed over the forest floor.
It is far past the time for our relationship with nature to change from "management" to STEWARDSHIP.
It is far past the time for our communication with our representatives, and paid government officials to be that of an accountable 2 way street. 
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
– Contact your representative now! Ask for an injunction of some sort to stop this travesty.
– Contact the DNR now! Ask them to stop this destruction.
– Rally and SHARE widely everyone and anyone that you know so that they too can make efforts to stop this insanity.
Contact:
– Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Phone: 989-734-2543
Email: DNR-ParksAndRecreation@Michigan.gov
– State Rep. Cameron Cavitt: CamCavitt@house.mi.gov
– Thunder Bay Trails Association- Thunder.bay.trails@gmail.com
TAKEAWAYS?
1. Organizations, whether public or government in nature should not be able to play a waiting game in order to achieve agenda. Honestly, that is a predator prey, relationship, and the public is not prey...we are their employers.
2. Public announcements via email or on webpages is a failed system. The public is inundated on a daily basis with advertisements, scams, trying to participate in the vast number of working components that keep our society afloat while simultaneously being the backbone of our society. An excellent suggestion made by the individual who was the voice in this matter, was to place an announcement at the beginning of a trailhead. If you truly want feedback, put it out where the people that interact best with the situation will see it. Otherwise, are you hoping it will get lost in their feed, or junk mail, or just be too exhausted to check an infinite amount of webpages in order to simply keep up and participate?
3. Whetherthrough the DNR, the forestry service, or your backyard help us shift from management to stewardship in our relationship with nature.