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Natural areas
Natural areas occur on public and private lands and may be legally dedicated by state or federal statute, or recognized by public agencies, conservation groups, private corporations or people. Together these areas comprise a larger statewide system of natural areas which helps to protect, preserve, and restore Michigan's and the Great Lakes Region's natural heritage.
Areas that have retained the best examples of Michigan's native landscapes, ecosystems, natural communities or scenic qualities are recognized throughout Michigan as natural areas. Features used to identify natural areas include: size, uniqueness, pristine nature, aesthetic or scenic qualities, and outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation. To be legally dedicated, natural areas must also contain ecological, geological, or other features of scientific, scenic, or natural history value. Many areas also have populations of endangered and threatened species.
Locations and profiles
- Algonac Prairie and Savanna
- Allegan Pine Plains
- Besser Natural Area
- Black Spruce Bog
- Bois Blanc Island
- Carney Fen
- Cathead Bay
- Crooked Lake Marsh
- Crow River Mouth
- Dead Stream Swamp
- Deer Park
- Dickinson Island/Harsen's Island Marshes
- Grand Mere
- Hampton Creek Wetlands
- Haven Hill Natural Area
- High Island
- Hoffmaster Wild Area
- Hog Island
- Laughing Whitefish Falls State Park
- Little Brevort Lake
- Little Presque Isle
- Ludington Dunes
- Maxton Plains
- McMahon Lake Strangmoor
- Minong-Petersburg Prairie
- Pigeon River Area
- Porcupine Mountains
- Presque Isle River Scenic Site
- Proud Lake Nature Study Area
- Rocking Chair Lakes
- Roscommon Red Pines
- Saugatuck Dunes Natural Area
- Seiner's Point
- Shadbush Tract Nature Study Area
- Shakey Lakes
- South Branch of the AuSable
- St. John's Wet Prairie
- Tahquamenon Natural Area
- Thompson's Harbor
- Tobico Marsh
- Union Springs Scenic Site
- Wagner Falls Scenic Site
- Warren Dunes Nature Study Area
- Warren Woods Nature Study Area
- Wilderness State Park