Giving Back through Conservation
400 Acres Protected near Lake Superior Shore

Not so long ago, Jeannine Palms uncovered a hand drawn map as she was sorting through some of her family possessions. The map was a physical record of the location of each tussock, each ant hill, the little creek, and nearly every other feature in the landscape that could be found on her grandmother’s property where Jeannine grew up. The map brought her back to when she was just five years old and she and her mother explored the beautiful land, creating the map to record their findings.

"My mom taught me to care for the land," Jeannine explained. "She loved it. It was part of her being. Every wildflower was special to her."

And it is in the memory of her mother, Jinny Palms, that Jeannine is making possible the protection of 400 acres of Chippewa County land just a mile inland from Lake Superior. The land is located approximately nine miles north of Tahquamenon Falls and 11 miles west of the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory near Paradise.

Stewardship Specialist Vic Lane with donor Jeannine Palms at the new Palms Nature Preserve

This is incredible wildlife habitat, and is so important for a number of wildlife and migratory bird species," said Conservancy land protection specialist Ty Ratliff. "The beauty of it is that the land lies adjacent to other protected land, resulting in the protection of two square miles of land when all is done. This magnitude of land protection is inestimably critical today."

The new Palms preserve lies just to the south of the Michigan Nature Association’s 380-acre Lake Superior Sanctuary. State land also borders the property in several locations. During visits to the property over the last several months, Conservancy staff have sighted several moose and indications of many bear and other wildlife. Two streams flow through the land and drain into Lake Superior.  The primitive nature of the land is what made it especially attractive to Jeannine and her partner, Dale Petty. As described by the Michigan Nature Association in their Nature Sanctuary Guidebook, "Here is wilderness by any test!"  But this story isn’t simply about land protection. It is about a land ethic that has motivated a person of modest means to donate an inheritance for the purpose of protecting land.  "I really feel that we are stewards of the land," said Jeannine. "Our lives are short compared to the enduring aspect of the land and it is up to us to strive toward the balance that can exist with all natural systems, which includes human life."

Several years ago, when it became apparent that it wasn’t possible to protect her family’s own land in southeast Michigan after her mother’s death, Jeannine decided to use her inheritance to protect some other land. Her great great grandfather had owned and logged large amounts of land in the Upper Peninsula and Jeannine always had a feeling that she would like to protect land in that region to help the land recover from its long history of heavy use. 

"Dale and I are so happy to have found this particular piece of land," added Jeannine. "It is so close to Lake Superior and my mother loved water. I was initially sad to find that it had been recently logged, but in walking the land it is inspiring to find it already restoring itself in many ways. It also has two fairly substantial intact wetlands. Fortunately, we are finally recognizing how important these are to the sustainability of ecosystems." 

The protection of the property came just in the nick of time. A Grand Rapids developer had just purchased the land and had already drawn up parcels in anticipation of selling splits. If not protected as a nature preserve, the land was sure to become fragmented.  "It has been such a privilege to work with Jeannine Palms," Ratliff said. "Throughout this whole process, her motivation has been so selfless and aware of how this land conservation effort fits into something bigger and enduring."

Jeannine and Dale have offered to donate funds for the Conservancy to purchase 360 acres for a nature preserve. Jeannine and Dale will then completely restrict the other 40 acres with a conservation easement, effectively protecting the entire 400-acre tract.

Ratliff also added that the project has created some land protection momentum in the region. The Conservancy was recently notified of an opportunity to protect an additional 40 acres of land surrounded by the new preserve.

The Palms donation will go toward the majority of the purchase of the property. Little Traverse Conservancy is seeking grants and other contributions to cover the remaining costs and additional future stewardship costs at the property.

Jeannine added, "It has also been a pleasure to work with such a dedicated and gracious team at the Little Traverse Conservancy. We look forward to a continuing collaboration in the stewardship of this preserve."