Strategic Conservation Plan
A visionary plan for the proactive conservation of West Michigan’s natural areas
Increasing pressures on the West Michigan landscape—urban development, habitat fragmentation and degradation, and climate change—all amount to a louder call for the Land Conservancy of West Michigan to be strategic in our approach to land protection and stewardship. It is more critical than ever that we permanently protect key natural areas that contribute to improved quality of water and life for West Michigan’s human inhabitants, as well as the resilience of our native plants and wildlife.
As a nationally accredited land trust, the Land Conservancy of West Michigan is uniquely positioned to meet these challenges through the creation of a strategic conservation plan. We are proud to be the first land trust in our region—and one of the first nationwide—to implement a proactive, climate-responsive conservation strategy.
Through a process combining science, advanced mapping and extensive community input, we have identified three distinct regions in our service area where we will focus conservation efforts. These regions include the scenic Lake Michigan Shoreline on our western boundary, the Big Forests and Wild Rivers to the north and our Eastern Glacial Corridor. Our strategic conservation plan outlines the threats in each region and the ways in which we will respond in the next 10-15 years. You can explore our focal regions using the interactive map below.
The strategic, proactive conservation of West Michigan’s natural lands can only succeed with your help. Support this important work with a gift to the Land Conservancy of West Michigan today!
