Volunteer conservationists across the region play a pivotal role in helping nonprofit organizations preserve, protect, and manage the natural resources of Northwest Lower Michigan. Working alone, in small groups and among the crowds at work bees, these people plant trees and shrubs, count birds, collect water samples, pick up trash and a host of other activities that can help to improve wildlife habitat and sustain natural ecosystems.
During this time of great change, volunteer conservationists are also helping to improve the odds for the rare and endangered plants and animals that live in our region. By preserving the best of what’s left – streams, woods, wetlands – they help increase the resilience of ecosystems against the continuing threats of development, invasive species and climate change.
These short multimedia stories reveal and celebrate some of the many ways volunteer conservationists answer the question: How can we help conserve, preserve and protect the beautiful plants, animals and landscapes in Northwest Lower Michigan?
In this short documentary film, we join experts and volunteers as they work to save Michigan’s only endemic flower. The Federally-listed endangered species, Michigan [...]
Nature Change appreciates this article and accompanying video submitted by Emily Cook, Outreach Coordinator for the Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network. We hope [...]
In this new essay by Stephanie Mills, we’re introduced to the Leelanau Conservancy’s Emily Douglas and a couple of dedicated natural resource volunteers [...]
Author, teacher and bioregionalist, Stephanie Mills offers readers another in her series of essays on natural resource experts and their work in Northern Michigan. Here [...]
Are frog populations diminishing? Is the changing climate interfering with bird migration? Do the big storm and changing temperatures have any impacts of [...]
Recently, the Grand Traverse Conservation District sponsored a workbee to plant trees and shrubs at the newly expanded Grand Traverse Natural Education Reserve. [...]
Recently, eleven of our region’s natural resources experts took turns in the hot seat, responding to questions posed by 8th grade science students [...]
This video essay is about land stewardship and some of the people dedicated to preserving and caring for Northern Michigan’s historic landscapes. This [...]
Change is inevitable. But some changes in the region’s natural resources are caused and accelerated by human activities. In these cases, informed people can make [...]
Author, teacher and bioregionalist, Stephanie Mills offers this essay to Nature Change readers on the beauty and wonder of mosses and ferns as seen through the [...]
This video essay and brief description below were contributed by Matthew Kern, Production Assistant, UpNorth Media Center, LIAA. This spring I set out [...]