• Overview
Biodiversity is short for biological diversity. It refers to the full range of variety and variability within and among living organisms and the natural associations in which they occur. Biological diversity includes ecosystem diversity, species diversity, and genetic diversity. Conserving biodiversity is essential for the health of Michigan's ecosystems and natural communities. The DNR strategy for conserving biodiversity is contained in the Biodiversity Conservation Planning Process

• Associated Legislation
Part 355, PA 451, Michigan Biological Diversity Conservation

• Conservation Area Recommendation Process
DNR forests, parks and wildlife lands contain many resource areas that possess special conservation values that are important to our society, including timber and mineral production, terrestrial and aquatic wildlife habitat, recreation, biodiversity conservation, and many cultural uses. The public may submit recommendations for inclusion of lands in a conservation areas network using the DNR Conservation Area Recommendation Form.

• High Conservation Value and Ecological Reference Areas Plan
Conservation Monitoring Process, 6/27/07 Draft Monitoring Protocol Summary, and draft plans.

• Natural Areas
Michigan’s Natural Area program is a prime example of a program run by the DNR that conserves biodiversity. Natural Areas are those lands that have retained the best examples of Michigan's native landscapes, ecosystems and natural communities. Many Natural Areas also have populations of endangered and threatened species, thereby making these areas important to conserving Michigan’s biodiversity heritage.

• Michigan State Parks
Many of Michigan’s state parks possess lands that help conserve Michigan’s biodiversity heritage. The Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park is an example of a state park and a legally dedicated Natural Area. It encompasses 35,000 acres of what is “the biggest and best tract of virgin Northern Hardwoods in North America.”

• Michigan Natural Features Inventory
The DNR also works with the Michigan Natural Features Inventory in inventorying DNR lands for location of endangered, threatened, and special concern species and high quality natural communities. A database has been created to track these occurrences in order to determine priorities for protection, including Natural Area dedication of State and private lands.

• Exotics - Invasive Species
The introduction of invasive exotic species into Michigan’s ecosystems presents a number of significant challenges and threat to the health of Michigan’s ecosystems and to Michigan’s biodiversity legacy. Introduced species can displace or even eliminate native plant and animal species. Such changes ripple through the system, affecting other species and potentially disrupting both the structure and the function of the ecosystem.

• Conservation and Restoration

• Ecosystem Management

• Natural Rivers

• Plants and Habitats at Risk

• Protection of Threatened Species

• State Park Stewardship Program

• Wildlife Conservation Plan

• Within-Stand Retention Guidance - IC 4110