In the late 1960’s several forestry leaders prepared a project proposal that formed the Upper Great Lakes Timber Inc. Timber Inc. had a broad mandate to work on important forestry problems, using existing information. It was a demonstration project, not a research program.

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Over the next several years,through 1971, over one hundred volunteers served on the Timber, Inc. projects. Logging equipment was tested in the field by loggers; small landowners were introduced to technical and cost sharing projects; and business problems were identified.

The high cost of workers’ compensation insurance, the need for improved relations with governmental leaders and support for forest by the public, emerged as the highest priority work.