MSU researchers build connection between forests and drinking water, outreach and conservation strategies follow

EAST LANSING, Mich. — The benefit of Michigan’s 20 million acres of forests can be seen through a variety of lenses. Michigan forests play a key role in offsetting greenhouse gas emissions through carbon storage, provide wildlife habitats and increase biodiversity, offer ample recreational opportunities to the state’s population and visitors, and supply timber resources and other forestry products — which contributed over $26 billion to Michigan’s economy in 2022, according to the latest data from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

“Generally speaking, most people understood that where there are forests, there’s cleaner and more abundant water,” Huff said. “However, they didn’t make the functional link that conserving forests results in cleaner drinking water.

“The conclusion we came to for why this is, is partly because Michigan is varied when it relates to where water comes from and flows to throughout different watersheds. There’s a huge focus on overall Great Lakes water quality, but maybe less so specifically on drinking water.”- Emily Huff, associate professor in the MSU Department of Forestry Read the full article here.

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