The Nature Conservancy and Keweenaw Community Foundation Announce New Funding for Keweenaw Heartlands
The community, The Nature Conservancy, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources continue to achieve important milestones in planning for the future of this community forest.
Photo credit: Mark R. Upton Photography
ALLOUEZ TOWNSHIP, Mich. – At the October 21st Keweenaw Heartlands Project Public Update, The Nature Conservancy in Michigan and the Keweenaw Community Foundation announced that they have secured $2 million to support long-term stewardship of the Keweenaw Heartlands.
The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation’s Kigme Fund have each contributed $1 million toward the establishment of a Keweenaw Heartlands stewardship endowment.
“We’re excited about this commitment because we believe it takes the best approach to long-term sustainability, one that ensures the Keweenaw Heartlands will be cared for by the community for generations to come,” said Ridgway White, president and CEO of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.
Once established with the Keweenaw Community Foundation, the endowment will help to provide resources needed for the long-term care of the Heartlands forest.
“We’ve been proud to support this effort since 2022,” said Robin Meneguzzo, Executive Director of the Keweenaw Community Foundation. “This investment shows a real belief in our community’s vision and in what we can accomplish together through care, collaboration, and shared purpose.”
The $2 million in philanthropic contributions fulfill a commitment made by The Nature Conservancy early in the project in response to concerns about sustaining the Heartlands long-term.
“We’ve seen continued progress on important milestones for the Heartlands Project,” said Julia Petersen, The Nature Conservancy in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula project manager. “And now we’ve achieved one of our biggest successes yet. The Nature Conservancy and Keweenaw Community Foundation have together secured funds that will grow with time while providing the needed resources to ensure the effective governance and management of the Heartlands. This is a huge win for the success of this community forest.”
In July, the Keweenaw Community Foundation announced the start-up of a separate Keweenaw Heartlands Forest Fund. With a goal to raise $600,000, this fund, held by the Keweenaw Community Foundation, will cover up to four years of start-up operations for the community forest, such as road and trail maintenance, while the endowment gets established and grows. To date, Keweenaw Community Foundation has raised $317,000 toward this goal. Those interested in supporting the start-up of the Keweenaw Heartlands Community Forest can contribute by visiting the project’s page.
Also at the October 21st meeting, The Nature Conservancy offered updates on the proposed amendments to the Michigan Recreational Authorities Act, which was recently passed by the Michigan House and is now under consideration by the Michigan Senate. These amendments, if passed, would enable local, public decision-making on some 20,000 acres of the Heartlands’ footprint.
The Nature Conservancy purchased the Keweenaw Heartlands, which includes more than 32,000 acres of land, in two separate sales, one closing in late October 2022 and the second just before Christmas 2022. While in The Nature Conservancy’s ownership, the land remains open to the public under the Michigan Commercial Forest Program and on community tax rolls. The Nature Conservancy, as the temporary owner before these lands move into public ownership, is working closely with the region’s community members and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to plan for the future of the Heartlands and ensure its protection for wildlife and people.
You can stay up to date on the Heartlands Project as it develops by visiting the project webpage.
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About The Nature Conservancy Michigan
The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, The Nature Conservancy works to create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to the world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. Learn more online at nature.org/michigan and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok.
About the Keweenaw Community Foundation
Established in 1994, the Keweenaw Community Foundation serves as a permanent charitable resource in the Keweenaw region. The Foundation collaborates with organizations on community initiatives; provides grants to local non-profits, schools, and municipalities; awards scholarships to students; and supports donors in achieving their philanthropic goals. For questions or inquiries, contact us at mail@keweenawgives.org or call 906-482-9673.