GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY — The Little Traverse Conservancy protected over 1,100 acres of land in 2024 using various land protection tools, including new nature preserves, working forest reserves, conservation easements, and assistance to local government.
Protected lands include new nature preserves and working forest reserves, additions to existing protected lands, conservation easements that protect privately owned lands, and an assist to local government.
The lands also include nearly four miles of frontage along creeks, rivers, and lakes, half a mile of frontage along the North Central State Trail and two and a half miles of scenic road frontage.
“The trails and woods of the nature preserve and reserves of Little Traverse Conservancy remain places that are open for ANYONE to enjoy,” Executive Director Kieran Fleming said. “This organization exists to protect our beautiful outdoors – the primary driver of our quality of life and health that we in northern Michigan are so fortunate to enjoy.”
Conservancy trail highlights from last year included:
- Two new mountain bike trails were opened.
- 18 work bees were held to remove invasive species.
- 235 volunteer hours resulted in planting trees and wildflowers and collecting native seeds (7,627 trees were planted at four preserves).
- Almost 17,000 acres of habitat were inventoried and mapped.
- Through iNaturalist, 221 people made 4,269 observations of 1,223 species on Conservancy lands.
- Nine miles of new trail were created in 2024.
In addition to new lands and trails, more than 6,500 students from 21 schools participated in more than 400 programs led by the Conservancy’s environmental education staff. Over 40 field trips that were open to the public were held at Conservancy preserves and reserves throughout the year, sponsored by the Conservancy and its partners.