Baird Forestry
Professional forest management, ecological restoration, and prescribed fire services.
Smart forestry balances ecology and economics. At Baird Forestry, we maximize your timber value while building forest health - managing for both today's harvest and tomorrow's growth. Through strategic planning, we help restoration efforts pay for themselves while creating resilient, productive forests.
Services
Timber Sales
Maximize timber value through competitive bidding and strategic harvests that improve forest health and promote regeneration of desired species.
Learn more →Ecological Restoration
A modern, restorative approach: Pay for the cost of restoring prairies and oak savannas by harvesting trees that emerged from ecological imbalance, turning them into the means of renewal.
Learn more →Prescribed Fire
Strategic burns to control invasive plants, improve nutrient cycling, and promote valuable oak regeneration.
Learn more →Forest Management Planning
A roadmap for your woods — and the required first step to enroll in tax savings and cost-share programs.
Learn more →Tools & Data
Beyond consulting, we design practical, map-based tools to help landowners make better-informed management decisions. More to come here in the future!
MNFI Vegetation Viewer
Explore how Michigan's vegetation looked prior to European settlement! This viewer visualizes a dataset compiled by the Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) called Michigan CIRCA 1800 Vegetation. MNFI data is based on real field observations recorded during the initial land survey of Michigan in the early 1800s.
About
We practice forestry that balances economics with ecology. By understanding the forest as a whole, from the soil to the canopy, we guide landowners toward their goals while strengthening long-term forest health.
Forestry decisions echo for decades. Harvests, species selection, and regeneration all shape tomorrow's woods. We help landowners weigh market timing, growth potential, timber quality, wildlife, and renewal strategies-combining traditional forestry with modern ecological science to build plans that last.
Whether you're looking to improve timber quality, enhance wildlife habitat, control invasive species, or generate income, successful forest management starts with understanding what you have and where you want to go. We provide the expertise and independent perspective to get you there.
Why Hire a Consulting Forester?
A consulting forester works exclusively for you - not timber buyers or mills. This independence ensures unbiased advice and competitive timber pricing. With professional inventory, market knowledge, and established buyer networks, consulting foresters can often increase timber sale revenues by 25-50% compared to unsolicited offers.
Beyond timber sales, I provide comprehensive forest management: writing management plans, restoring native ecosystems, controlling invasive species, improving wildlife habitat, and accessing cost-share programs. Your forest is a long-term investment - professional management protects and enhances that value.