Our strategy involves managing Michigan’s ecosystems in a responsive manner that includes stakeholder involvement in both planning and stewardship. Change will be the norm, not the exception, as the department embraces the principles of ecosystem management.

Ecosystem management relies on the following principles:

• Partnerships and Citizen Participation: Work together with citizens, landowners, businesses, local governments, interested organizations, and other agencies to address issues, identify opportunities and find common solutions.
• Science-Based Approach: Use the best available scientific knowledge (ecological, social, and economic) as a foundation for decision-making; understand natural resource relationships, and focus on sustainability of ecological systems.
• Long-term View: Establish targets and long-term goals for desired ecosystem conditions that maintain the capacity of the land to sustain public benefits and opportunities into the future.
• Comprehensive Perspective: Find solutions that support economic prosperity, lasting livelihoods, and ecological health and sustainability.

Eco-unit teams have been organized to define the goals, principles, objectives and infrastructure required for sustainable ecosystems within their assigned eco-region.

Through citizen participation and partnerships, the eco-unit teams are an important step in bringing together our communications and management plans, and new ways of addressing environmental issues with a holistic perspective and an eye on the future.

Forest Certification -- Sustainable Forest Management
Healthy forests that meet myriad user needs are vital to our future. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources recognizes our forests are an asset that provides timber production and recreational value, but they also play a cornerstone role in Michigan’s ecosystems, particularly as wildlife habitat.

PA 125 of 2004 - “Sustainable Forestry Act” requires that by Jan.1, 2006, the DNR seek and maintain forestry certification by at least one credible, non-profit, non-governmental certification program.

The DNR currently is seeking dual certification of state lands under the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and the Forest Stewardship Council certification programs. Although the DNR already believes it is managing Michigan’s state forests in compliance with both programs, certification will demonstrate to interested stakeholders and markets that our natural resource management practices are sound and comprehensive.

Simply stated, forest certification is a means of protecting our forests by promoting responsible forestry practices. It involves:

• A review of on-the-ground forest practices against standards that address environmental, social and economic issues.
• The provision of an independent, third party view attesting how effectively current management maintains forest health and productivity.
• The periodic re-verification and re-certification after initial certification of the forest.

In Michigan, forest certification will maintain markets for state forest timber, and continue our ability to manage habitats for wildlife, recreation opportunities, and maintenance of forest health.

It will promote long-term improvements in program efficiency, and empower DNR staff at all levels to identify weaknesses and initiate positive change in the sustainable management of forest ecosystems.

Given the challenge to complete the process within the established time frame, the current focus is on state forest lands, but other state-owned lands; e.g., state game areas and state parks also are being considered.

“Conservation is the foresighted utilization, preservation and/or renewal of forests, waters, lands and minerals, for the greatest good of the greatest number for the longest time.” Gifford Pinchot

Land Consolidation Strategy
Michigan’s public recreational land base, second to no state east of the Mississippi River, assures continued access to our state’s precious land and water resources.

Of Michigan’s total land area of 37,258,240 acres, the Department of Natural Resources currently holds title to approximately 4.5 million surface acres and more than 6 million acres of mineral rights.

The vast majority of these lands came into state ownership as a result of tax reversion in the 20th century. Although most lands acquired through tax reversion help the department fulfill its conservation mission, some do not.

In 2003, the Natural Resources Commission adopted a new policy on land holdings administered by the state.

The NRC directed the department to conduct a comprehensive boundary review of its 97 state park and recreation areas, 97 state game and wildlife areas and 3.9 million acres of state forests.

• Phase I Boundary review of existing lands and public comment
• Phase II Evaluation of lands outside boundaries and public comment
• Phase III Consolidation of lands
• Phase IV Maintenance and 10-year reviews

The new boundaries were reviewed by the NRC and approved by the DNR Director in May 2004.

Public comment will be accepted for each county as the department develops parcel recommendations. Each county then will be reviewed by the department’s land exchange review committee, who will submit recommendations to the NRC and DNR Director.

This process will be repeated until all 83 counties have been reviewed.

“One way to open your eyes is to ask yourself, ‘What if I had never seen this before? What if I knew I would never see it again?’” Rachel Carson

Michigan's Wildlife Conservation Strategy
In Michigan, the conservation and management of wildlife often has focused on game species or threatened and endangered species. Although many other species have benefited from the work done for these focus species, there have been only limited efforts for other nongame species.

The result is a conservation gap, a lack of emphasis on or attention to species that are not in dire enough circumstances to be listed as threatened or endangered, nor common enough to be hunted or fished.

In 2001, federal legislation established the state wildlife grants program to provide funds to state wildlife agencies for conservation of wildlife species in greatest need.

Through an appropriation to the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Michigan’s share currently is $1.5 million to $1.7 million in matching funds for species and habitat work.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has initiated a strategic planning process to guide how the funds will be used. The process includes participation from stakeholder organizations, technical experts, other governmental agencies, tribes and other interested individuals.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided states with a list of required elements (originally identified by Congress), including information on distribution, abundance, habitat, threats, priority research, recommended conservation actions, and monitoring plans for selected species of wildlife.

Each state will determine which species to include in its strategy. The DNR has selected species that are representative of the different habitat types in Michigan and that are indicative of the diversity and health of our state’s wildlife, with a focus on those species determined to be in the greatest need of conservation.

Michigan’s plan must be approved by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by Oct. 1, 2005. Public comment will be sought this spring, with the final document submitted to the FWS this summer.