The Department of Natural Resources and The Nature Conservancy have finalized the fourth phase of the 271,338-acre Northern Great Lakes Forest Project in which the DNR is acquiring a conservation easement and public access rights in the Upper Peninsula. This fourth phase involves completion of a conservation easement protecting 36,716 acres in a project that stretches across seven U.P. counties from the Tahquamenon River west to the Porcupine Mountains.

The DNR received a $3,540,000 grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and a $1.97 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Legacy Program to acquire the conservation easement and public access rights to the land from The Nature Conservancy. The project represents the largest conservation corridor in the Midwest and prevents land fragmentation. The project encompasses more than 68 lakes, including 17 that are over 10 acres in size; 21.5 miles of Class I trout streams; approximately 3,344 acres of the Two Hearted River watershed; 1,357 acres of forested wetlands; and 708 acres of emergent shrub wetlands.

The overall project will include purchase of a working forest conservation easement on approximately 248,000 acres and acquisition by The Nature Conservancy of 23,338 acres in the Two Hearted River watershed in Luce County.

"This is an historic land protection project in Michigan that will ensure public access, protect our wildlife, our land and our forestry jobs," Governor Jennifer M. Granholm said. "This is a great example of everyone collaborating to make something positive happen for Michigan."

"Our partnership with The Nature Conservancy will help us protect places that Michigan citizens identified long ago as special places, so that future generations can visit and experience their amazing natural beauty," said DNR Director Rebecca Humphries. "This project is a milestone for conservation in our state because it will protect and retain high-quality wildlife habitat and the property will remain open to the public for outdoor recreation, including hunting, fishing and hiking. Also, we will be able to maintain the area as a working, commercial forest, which will retain and create jobs in our state."

"This historic project exemplifies the best of Michigan and the Great Lakes not only for the landscape it protects in the U.P., but also for the way in which public and private interests came together in a major collaborative effort," said Helen Taylor, state director in Michigan for The Nature Conservancy. "With this project, we changed how conservation in Michigan can be accomplished by working together for our common interest in protecting the land, water and heritage of the state."

This initiative is a private/public conservation collaboration unlike any seen in Michigan before, Humphries noted. The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund has approved $16.1 million for the project spread over five funding cycles. The Trust Fund is comprised of revenues from oil, gas and mineral exploration and development on state-owned land. Under law, it is used to purchase land for public recreation or fund projects that will benefit public recreation.

In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Legacy Program will provide $7.47 million for the project over the next few years. The purpose of the Forest Legacy Program is to ascertain and protect environmentally important forest areas that are threatened by conversion to non-forest uses. The Forest Legacy Program seeks to promote forestland protection and other conservation opportunities.

Many foundations, including the C.S. Mott Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The Kresege Foundation, Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, Harry A. and Margaret D. Towsley Foundation, Carls Foundation, Wege Foundation, Frey Foundation and the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation also have contributed funding to the project.

Under the conservation easements, the forest lands will be managed as a working forest to protect timber and tourism jobs. An annual plan and meeting with the easement holder are required under the easement agreements. The easements also will enhance the legal rights of the public to access the land for outdoor recreation. The land will remain open for hunting, fishing, hiking, snowmobiling, horseback-riding and non-motorized mountain biking along designated trails. Non-motorized boating and canoeing also will be permitted.