Heart of the Lakes
  • HOME
    • Board and Staff
    • Members and Friends
    • Strategic Vision
    • FAQ
  • News
    • Events
    • Protected Lands
  • People & Place
    • History of MI Conservation
    • Land Conservancies
    • Landowner Options
  • Tools
    • Michigan Model
    • Community Building
    • Funding/Partnership Options >
      • Michigan DNR
      • MI Dept. of Agriculture
  • Initiatives
    • Adventure Hub
    • Farmland Preservation
    • Getting Outside During a Pandemic
    • Passion & Purpose
    • Places Create Stories
    • protectMI
    • Taking Action // The Path Ahead
    • Urban Conservation

Over 588,000 Acres Protected! 

5/2/2014

 
Heart of the Lakes is pleased to announce that its member land conservancies are protecting 588,000 acres of natural, scenic and working farms and forest lands in Michigan.   Based on data collected from 27 organizations in its annual Protected Lands Survey, the total cumulative acreage reflects an increase slightly less than 10,000 acres since the last survey conducted at this time in 2013.

“These protected lands support a wide variety of critical conservation purposes, including improved water quality, wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation, local foods and healthy forests, “ said Jonathan Jarosz, Heart of the Lakes’ Executive Director.  “Moreover they contribute to the economic vitality of our communities and regions, creating exceptional places to live and work.”
Nonprofit land conservancies work with willing landowners to permanently protect important conservation lands throughout the state using a unique suite of tools:

91,440 acres are owned by land conservancies as nature preserves or sanctuaries.  Conservancies acquire them through purchase or donation and are available to the public for quiet recreation.

109,600 acres are protected by conservation easements, voluntary legal agreements between landowners and land conservancies that permanently protect significant conservation values by restricting future development on natural, scenic, farm and forest lands.  The lands remain in private hands and on the tax rolls.

By far the largest segment of lands conservancies protect are assistance or transfers of lands to local government or the state, supporting their efforts to secure parklands and open space.  Land conservancies often negotiate with landowners, secure lands and raise funds to make these acquisitions possible.  Over 381,930 acres are protected this way.

Land conservancies also manage or steward another 5,070 acres on natural lands owned by other entities.

 “We are truly proud of the role land conservancies play in building great communities that are more environmentally and economically vibrant because of their work,” Jarosz stated.  “But the real heroes are the many, many families and individuals who work with the conservancies to protect lands they love and the conservation values important to us all.”

Comments are closed.

    Categories

    All
    Accreditation
    Advocacy
    Agriculture
    Conservation Easement
    Conservation Hero
    Executive Director
    Farm Bill
    Farmland Preservation
    Heart Of The Lakes
    Jobs
    Land Conservancies
    Michigan
    Outdoor Economy
    Outreach
    Position Closed
    Tax Benefits

    Archives

    May 2025
    November 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    May 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    June 2017
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    May 2014
    February 2014
    April 2013

    RSS Feed


Heart of the Lakes strengthens the collective efforts of organizations dedicated to the conservation of Michigan’s environmentally and economically significant land and water. We provide leadership, innovative ideas, and advocate for smart public policy for the benefit of our communities and for generations to come.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Heart of the Lakes
PO Box 1128
Bay City, MI  48706
Heart of the Lakes is a statewide organization that concentrates and strengthens the efforts of Michigan’s land conservation community. Founded by Michigan’s land conservancies, Heart of the Lakes does what no individual organization can do on its own-- unites them under the common goal of protecting Michigan’s land. 

BACK TO TOP

Heart of the Lakes
P.O. Box 1128 Bay City, MI  48706
989-292-3582

© DivTag Templates Ltd | All Rights Reserved