Help us bring the Keweenaw Heartlands Forest Fund closer to its goal!
We’re very excited to announce that the Keweenaw Heartlands Forest Fund has surpassed $450,000, with only $150,000 left to hit the target of $600,000 before December 31, 2026. It is so exciting to see our community organize around our future community forest.
What do these dollars do? Reaching the $600K goal will cover three to four years (likely more!) of local, public management of the community forest, including care for roads, trails, and trees. These funds will support planning for future forest-related revenue-generating capabilities, such as sustainable timber harvests and recreation opportunities. A strong start for this community forest ensures the benefits are returned to the forest and community as quickly as possible, enabling it to grow back better than before through the shared, sustainable care of our community.
How can you help? Join the 70+ individuals and organizations who have supported this fund so far! Learn more and give via the Keweenaw Heartlands Forest Fund webpage. Or stop by Visit Keweenaw’s storefront in Houghton to check out limited-edition Keweenaw Heartlands swag. Every purchase supports the Keweenaw Heartlands Forest Fund!
If you've contributed, thank you for your gift! Every dollar has brought our community one step closer to establishing the Keweenaw Heartlands Community Forest.
Candidates for the Keweenaw Heartlands Recreational & Natural Resources Authority are on the ballot in November 2026!
Thirteen individuals in Keweenaw County filed candidacy paperwork and are now running for the Keweenaw Heartlands Authority Board. These candidates are running at-large, which means if you are a Keweenaw County voter, you can vote for five individuals regardless of where those candidates live in the county. To create a staggered board, candidates for this election are running for either a two-year or four-year board position. Currently, six individuals are running for (3) four-year board positions and seven individuals for (2) two-year board positions. Stay tuned for more information on these candidates—and opportunities to learn more—in the September update!
Noticing issues with your spruce and fir trees? We are too!
As the interim owner of the Keweenaw Heartlands, The Nature Conservancy currently manages the Heartlands property. Recently, TNC has received calls about trees that look like they are dying. A closer look by the TNC forester offers an answer: eastern spruce budworm is affecting the trees. These are the larvae of moths that feed on new foliage growth. They invade on a cyclical basis, eating the buds and needles of conifer trees (mainly spruce and fir). We anticipate continued defoliation and loss of some conifers over the next few years.
For those property owners in the Keweenaw seeing evidence of spruce budworm on their trees, consider accessing the Forestry Assistance Program of the Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District.
