The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin is a federally recognized sovereign nation.  This gives the Menominee self governing powers, privileges, and responsibilities.  One of those responsibilities is the management of their forestland.  Menominee history, culture, agencies, and legislation have helped to contribute to over 150 years of sustainable forestry management. 

The Menominee Forest:

• Is located at the northern cusp of the transitional "tension zone" which divides Wisconsin's central hardwood forest from the northern hardwood forest.  The Menominee forest contains a higher diversity of tree species than forests found either to its north or south because of this geographic location.

• Contains twelve forest habitat types. The dominant forest cover types include northern hardwoods, hemlock hardwoods, mid-tolerant hardwoods, pine stands (jack, white, and red), aspen, scrub oak, and swamp forest.

• Contains over 30 tree species including some white pine trees over 200 years old and over 150 feet high.

• Contains eagles, osprey, red-shouldered hawk, deer, wolf, bear and many other wildlife species.

The Menominee forest is managed by Menominee Tribal Enterprises (MTE).  MTE is the principal business arm of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and operates under authority of the Tribe's Constitution and Bylaws.  Forest management activities are directed by the Forest Management Plan.  MTE manages and operates the Tribe's business assets, including "...to log, manage, and reforest tribal forest land, and to manufacture, market, sell, and distribute timber, forest products, and related products."   MTE also manages and operates the Tribe's saw mill.

MTE is committed to excellence in the sustainable management of the Menominee forest and the manufacturing of its lumber and forest products by providing a consistently superior product while serving the needs of the forest, employees, wood products customers, tribal community, and future generations.

Case Study: Menominee Tribal Enterprises - This is an article prepared for the Symposium "Forestry in the Americas: Community-Based Management and Sustainability" held February 3-4, 1995 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  The article was written by Menominee Tribal Enterprise's Chief forester and a former director of the College of Menominee Nation Sustainable Development Institute.  It describes the land, forest, and history of the Menominee tribe.  It also describes the use and control of the forest, organization for production, marketing, and a summary analysis of Menominee's sustainable forestry.

The Forest Keepers: The Menominee Forest-Based Sustainable Development Tradition- In the Menominee language foresters are known as Metekukukiah Pemaenakuaq or "Keepers of the Forest".  This publication gives an introduction to Menominee sustainable forestry theory, Menominee history, Menominee forest and ecosystem management, Menominee economy and wood products manufacturing, Menominee people and community, and recognitions for sustainable development achievements.  This publication was produced cooperatively by the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin-Environmental Services Department, College of Menominee Nation, and Menominee Tribal Enterprises.