8,600 acres in North Idaho removed from Large Tracts Program by private landowners following repeated unauthorized use and rule violations

Manulife Investment Management recently removed nearly 8,600 acres of land from the Large Tracts Program in Unit 5 near Emida due to persistent violations and damage to property. The acreage has been divided into two parcels that will be leased for exclusive access.

Managing public use of these parcels has become increasingly challenging for Manulife.

A Manulife representative commented, "Our goal is to keep properties in North Idaho available for recreational access while maintaining them as working forests and managing the costs and risks associated with providing access. Over time, we have experienced a growing number of unauthorized activities on the lands we manage. This includes unauthorized trails, drug and alcohol use, unapproved events, illegal collection of forest products, dumping, vandalism, theft, unpermitted fires, damage to roads, gates, and wetlands. Licenses for access allow us to gain greater control over these activities and cover related costs while keeping our lands accessible for public enjoyment."

For more information visit https://manulifeimlanduse.com/sites/default/files/2026-03/faq.inland-north-id.pdf and https://manulifeimlanduse.com/browse-licenses .