Being Good Stewards of the Land

Stewardship covers a wide range of activities including trail and visitor amenity improvements, invasive species management, and prescribed burns, typically with help from enthusiastic volunteers across the state. Our conservation staff worked tirelessly to make improvements at many sanctuaries, engaging volunteer sanctuary stewards and others in small groups, tackling large projects.

2022 stewardship highlights include:

• As a proud recipient of a Consumers Energy Foundation Planet Award in 2019, MNA surpassed the award goal of restoring 264 acres of habitat for rare, threatened, and endangered species across the Lower Peninsula.

• Three major land acquisition projects as part of our 70th Anniversary Campaign, protecting nearly 4,000 acres of critical habitat for rare, threatened, and endangered species.

• Parking and other visitor improvements were made this year at the Franklin F. and Brenda L. Holly, Sharon Zahrfeld Memorial, Wade Memorial, and Black Creek Nature Sanctuaries.

• Our stalwart Sanctuary Stewards helped staff monitor 100% of our Nature Sanctuaries to ensure the properties maintain the conservation values for which they were protected.

100% Sanctuaries monitored

4 Prescribed burns conducted

11 Partner research projects