The history and future of the Jackson County Forest will be the topic of the program at the September Friends of the Black River meeting.
The meeting will be held Wednesday, Sept. 11, in The Hub in the Lunda Community Center beginning at 6:30 p.m. The meeting and program are open and the public is encouraged to attend.
Jackson County Forest Administrator Jim Zahasky will present the program beginning with a bit of the forest’s history to provide background and end with what the future could look like.
“I’ll talk about who controls the direction we go and how members of the public, if they are interested, can get involved with the forest,” said Zahasky. “We will be looking at the county forest needs for the future and issues that the forest is facing.”
Through the information he will present, Zahasky will welcome input with an open conversation as well as fielding questions and comments from the public.
With more than 120,000 acres, the Jackson County Forest is the largest public forested area in the central part of the state, offering about 23,750 visitors recreational opportunities each year.
Zahasky is a forestry management graduate from UW-Stevens Point, receiving his degree in1985. He has been working in the forestry field since graduation. He’s been Jackson County Forest Administrator for 21 years, taking the post and after serving as the Ashland County Forest Administrator for six years.
Zahasky’s presentation is part of FBR’s ongoing mission to bring educational programs about the environmental and conservation issues to the community.
For more information about FBR, email info_fbr@yahoo.com.