Conservation Planning for the High Plains District of

Michigan Team Members:

Stephanie Pendergrass

Becky Schillo

Jenny Stover

Faculty Advisor:

Dr. Burt Barnes

Client:

The Nature Conservancy

The High Plains

• Subdistrict 8.2 of Albert et al’s Regional Landscape Ecosystems of MI

Our Client: The Nature Conservancy

• The Nature Conservancy is an international conservation organization whose mission is “to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.”

• The Nature Conservancy of Michigan has identified the High Plains as an important conservation priority in the state due to its rare ecosystems that support many rare or endangered species.

Overall Objective

Develop a conservation plan for the rare ecosystems and organisms of the High Plains by integrating existing ecological, sociological, and managerial information into set of conservation strategies.

Methods

• Conceptual Method: Landscape ecosystem approach of Stan Rowe

• Planning Tool: The Nature Conservancy’s Five-S Conservation Planning Tool

Specific ObjectivesObjective 1:• Define conservation targets (ecosystems and

organisms) and determine their key attributes

Methods:• Work with TNC, Forest Service, DNR, and MNFI• Overlay occurrences with LTAs, other data • Group species occurrences within landscape

ecosystems

Specific Objectives

Objective 2:

• Determine current status (“viability”) of target ecosystems and species

Methods:

• Compare occurrences with presettlement vegetation

• Consult with Forest Service and DNR staff

Specific Objectives

Objective 3:

• Identify stresses (threats) to targets and sources of those stresses

Methods:

• Determine social, political, and managerial factors of region

• Consult with Forest Service and DNR staff

Objective 4:• Develop and prioritize conservation strategies

Methods:• Analyze and integrate ecological, social, and

managerial factors• Consult with land managers and private

landowners

Specific Objectives

Products and Dissemination

• Conservation plan for The Nature Conservancy with recommendations to guide future work in the region

• Summary publication of recommendations that can be distributed to stakeholders

• Workshop at the 2006 Kirtland’s Warbler Recovery Team Meeting

Project Timeline

Budget

Budget, continued

Steps to date ….

• Training in Five-S Workbook

• Obtained species occurrence data sets from Michigan Natural Features Inventory

• Met with staff from the Huron-Manistee National Forest

• Scheduled meeting with staff from DNR and secondary meeting with Forest Service