Letter from the Executive Director: Fall 2024
Dear Cherished Community Members,
Michigan is known widely for its striking natural environments. They’ve been a draw for people from all over for centuries. They drew me here from Colorado. Though I have lived in many places with iconic natural features, in my opinion, few match the diverse tapestry of beauty that makes up Michigan. From the immense dunes along the shores of the Great Lakes, to the towering white pines of our expansive forests, these natural places form the bedrock of our state’s identity, and they are a source of pride for all who call this place home.
Kim Karn
In West Michigan, a habitat type that once drew many people here was the oak savanna. Described by settlers as “park-like,” the oak savanna’s sunny open canopy and grassy understory made it an ideal place to make a home. Settling these areas, along with the cessation of conservation practices that helped maintain oak savannas, have caused the near-complete disappearance of this unique and special habitat.
The Land Conservancy of West Michigan—with your support—is working to write a new chapter for oak savannas.
In the pages that follow, we explore the history, ecology, and future of oak savannas in West Michigan. Along the way, we showcase the tools the Land Conservancy uses to help people protect, enjoy, and care for natural land, and the support that makes it all possible.
We are fortunate in West Michigan to have such a generous community working together towards a brighter future, and the stories we share here show the impact we can have when we work together. I am inspired by Mary Parr, who is building a career rooted in her heritage, values, and passion for restoration ecology. I am inspired by Chuck and Pat Bloom and their decades-spanning commitment to protecting nature for their children, grandchildren, and beyond. I am inspired by our staff, board, and volunteers, and the ways they are innovating and advancing progress in conservation.
Above all, I’m inspired by you, for stepping up year after year to support keeping nature nearby and protected in perpetuity!
Thank you for supporting the Land Conservancy of West Michigan. You are helping make the oak savanna one of the iconic habitats West Michigan is known for. Let it draw people not for the promise of turning it into something else, but for the awe its magnificence, resilience, and diversity can inspire.
With gratitude,
Kim Karn, Executive Director