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Land
Protection
More than 3,500 acres of land were permanently protected by the Little
Traverse Conservancy in Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Emmet, and Mackinac
counties during 2001. This is 2,000 acres more than in any previous year,
setting a new record for our organization, which turns 30 years old this
year. The protected land includes more than 11 miles of lake and river
frontage and 1½ miles of scenic road frontage.
Some of the key parcels protected last year include:
• 266-acre St. Helena Island in Mackinac County
• 360-acre Banwell property in Cheboygan County
• A total of 474 acres protected through the Conservation Investment Program
in Cheboygan County
• 140-acre parcel adjacent to the Raven Hill Discovery Center in Charlevoix
County
• 360-acre Palms Nature Preserve donation in Chippewa County
• Formation of the 710-acre Round Island Point Nature Preserve in Chippewa
County
• Acquisition of the 243-acre Round Lake/Fochtman property in Emmet County
Membership
& Fundraising
Last
year was the Conservancy’s most successful year ever, with land protection
and membership donations surpassing previous highs. The year ended with
membership donations totaling $571,253 coming from a total of 4,105 individuals
and families.
Our record-breaking year of land protection would not have been possible
if it weren’t for a record-breaking year of land project donations. Project
fundraising for the year amounted to a total of approximately $3.2 million.
These donations were given toward the protection of some of the most significant
land parcels the Conservancy has ever protected.
Stewardship
As
land protection exploded in 2001, it follows that stewardship responsibilities
also increased dramatically. The acreage of preserves increased 54.9%
and conservation easement acres increased by 17.5% last year alone.
Nearly 6,000 conservation easement and preserve acres were monitored by
air last year. A total of 2,041 acres were monitored on ground and 139
acres by boat.
A sample of last year’s stewardship preserve activities includes:
• 26 new signs were installed
• A 560-foot boardwalk and stairway were constructed at the Raunecker
Preserve
• 800 diverse seedlings were planted at the MacDonald Preserve in an effort
to restore the site
• Two benches were constructed and installed at the Birge Preserve as
part of the Service Learning Program
Education
More
than 250 classes from all five counties in our service area participated
in school environmental education programs throughout 2001. In addition,
young people were reached through scout programs, camps, and alternative
education programs.
New initiatives for 2001 include:
• A new summer program involving more than 200 young people
• An increase in the number of programs in Cheboygan County and the Les
Cheneaux Islands region
• The Service Learning Program, a cooperative effort between Education
and Stewardship
• Expanding and diversifying our seasonal community field trip programs
• Correlation of Conservancy programs to Michigan State Curriculum Frameworks
• Expanding our programs to include the use of more nature preserves and
to include more student focused, hands-on learning activities
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