In a move to add jobs to the state's forest industry, lawmakers are planing to introduce legislation that would eliminate restrictions on logging in some state forest lands.

Sen. Tony Stamas and Reps. Kevin Elsenheimer, Howard Walker and Darwin Booher announced the initiative at the Weyerhaeuser plant in Grayling on Monday.

"The forest industry is an extremely important contributor to northern Michigan's economy," said Stamas, R-Midland. "Jobs are our number one concern and the legislation in this package will help create and retain forest industry jobs."

The MI-Forests package aims to encourage private timber management through tax incentives and opening more state timber resources for industry use.

State lawmakers said the legislation would:

- review and/or abolish the Department of Natural Resources' limitations that prevent timber harvesting on certain state lands;

- clarify and update portions of state law which encourage companies to allow public recreation access to woodland holdings in exchange for decreased tax assessments;

- encourage private landowners to implement forest management plans through tax incentives;

- provide tax incentives to the forest products industry to invest in and expand operations.

"My legislation for forest renaissance zones will remove obstacles to locating forest industry businesses in Michigan and make it more attractive for new companies to locate close to an abundant supply of quality resources," said Walker, R-Traverse City.

The forest industry employs approximately 200,000 Michigan workers and contributes $12 billion to the state's economy each year.

"We see this legislation as one cog in the wheel that will get the state's economy rolling again," said Elsenheimer, R-Bellaire "Rather than having these resources rotting in the ground, we want to see them put to good use which will help create jobs and strengthen our economy."

Michigan timber land acreage is the fifth largest in the nation with 19 million acres.

Tom Barnes, executive director of the Michigan Association of Timbermen, was pleased with the initiative.

"Getting into some of these state forest lands will help improve the health of the forest, will help eliminate insect problems and will add needed jobs in our local communities," Barnes said.

Dave Malm, the Weyerhaeuser plant manager, was encouraged to see state officials trying to address both public and private sector forestry issues.

"We are very supportive of any initiative or legislation that will increase the management of sour state forests in a sustainable manner," Malm said.