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 Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy

climate challenge: Effects on Habitat & Species

grant award: $179,819; year Awarded: 2019

This project will pilot efforts to address ecosystem adaptation and resiliency in the Great Lakes, 100 miles north into the “climatic tension zone.” This zone is an area with a mix of species from northern and southern regions, reaching the extremes of their respective ranges. This project will reforest 111 acres of disturbed forest community on the edge of the tension zone with southern tree species at northern edge of range. Additionally, the project team will ensure the resiliency of 76 acres of southern forest at the northern edge of its range as well as134 acres of shoreline forest community.


 
 



tools and resources:

From Planning to Planting, Climate-driven Land Protection and Stewardship Strategies

Hilary Hunt and Mitch Lettow of Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy present the culmination of several years' work on a strategic conservation plan which is framed by the concept of climate resilience. The plan they developed for SWMLC can serve as a roadmap for other organizations that are seeking to create resilience plans or could be wrapped into a strategic plan, as was done at SWMLC.