Forests dominate the landscape in the Mississagi River Valley. Therefore, it is no surprise that forestry has been one of the main industries since the beginning of settlement in the valley. When the first settlers arrived, they had the forests to contend with. It is unlikely that they appreciated forests in the same way that we do today. In order to survive, they had to clear enough land to enable them to support themselves through farming. They clear cut and burned the land in order to have space in which to plant crops.

However, the forests were also an asset because they provided materials with which to build shelter. As well the woods provided a second source of income for farmers, as many spent the winters working in the lumber camps. The lumber camps also provided the farms with a market for their produce, once the farms had become established and capable of producing surpluses.