Conservation Investment Program: An Exciting New Conservation Tool In the last newsletter, we introduced our Conservation Investment Program, a creative new initiative to help conservation-minded buyers affordably purchase land with important conservation values. Through our first project, we have learned that this program is sparking a great deal of interest and an untold number of possible opportunities to protect land. This summer, the Conservancy purchased 120 acres of land in Cheboygan County to launch the Conservation Investment Program. Referred to as the Bearpaw Property, the land got its name when Land Protection Specialist Ty Ratliff found bear tracks while first inspecting the land. “In one day we found bear, bobcat, and coyote tracks on the property,” commented Ratliff. “The area is also a great home for deer and many species of songbirds.” The Bearpaw property met several land protection criteria which included its size, shared boundary with state land, and important natural features such as wetlands and a small creek. Ratliff mentioned that the land is also important for maintaining water quality. After securing a purchase contract on the parcel, the Conservancy sent a letter to surrounding landowners to see if any were interested in buying the land with a conservation easement in place. Local landowner Bill Welsh called immediately and offered to purchase the land. In addition, he agreed to place a conservation easement on 40 of his own 80 acres, which lie adjacent to the Bearpaw property. “I’ve been going to that region since I was a young boy and have been watching what is happening to land around Mackinaw,” said Welsh. “There is no question in my mind that we need to protect some of this land for later generations. We aren’t making any new land!” With Welsh joining the land protection effort, a total of more than 160 acres will be protected. And when all is said and done, the total cost for protecting the Bearpaw and adjacent property will be $63 per acre. “This is clearly a very cost effective way for us to protect high priority parcels,” commented MaryKay O’Donnell, Director of Land Protection. “The best part is that everyone wins—the seller receives a fair price, the Conservancy protects the land in a cost effective manner, and the final buyer is able to purchase the land for their own uses that are also compatible with sound conservation.” Buyers Wanted! If you are interested in this program, please call one of our land protection staff to get more information at (231) 347-0991. “We are particularly interested in hearing from people who are potential buyers,” explained O’Donnell. “Finding these folks could be the single most important factor having the largest effect on the program’s success.” The Conservancy is also seeking financial contributions to the Conservation Investment Program so that we can continue to demonstrate its success. Already, we have received calls from other land trusts around the nation who are curious about using this exciting conservation tool.