Current Initiatives

The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy’s (GTRLC) work doesn’t end once land is protected. Stewardship refers to the long-term, ongoing responsibility of caring for the lands we preserve. Our stewardship team works year-round to safeguard conservation values, sustain and improve ecosystem health, develop and maintain trails and infrastructure and provide sustainable public access where appropriate. 

Stewardship of every property we protect begins with assessing its plants, animals, unique natural features and historical uses. This information helps shape management plans that inform the extent of remediation work, placement of recreational amenities and opportunities for specific properties’ ecological restoration. These plans serve as guiding frameworks and baselines against which we measure our efforts, and they evolve as additional lands are protected or conditions change. 

GTRLC maintains and cares for all of our nature preserves and sanctuaries, along with select properties owned by local government units. Our more visible stewardship efforts include installing and maintaining essential infrastructure such as trails, parking areas, benches and informational signage. Certain nature preserves feature universally accessible infrastructure to make these properties accessible to people of all ages and abilities. We also monitor for boundary infringements, clean up trash and respond to incidents of vandalism and rule violations. 

The less obvious—yet most crucial—aspect of stewardship is protecting and restoring the diverse ecosystems that make visiting our protected lands a truly special experience.

GTRLC’s native plant program invites community members and volunteers to play an active role in the stewardship of our publicly accessible lands. This program’s initiatives include: 

• Conducting botanical inventories and assessments
• Native plant propagation
• Habitat mapping
• Seed collection 
• Educational outreach about the importance of natural habitats for our region’s wildlife and water quality

At the center of this program is our native plant greenhouse, which works in tandem with invasive species control efforts to catalyze habitat restoration. Guided by science and incorporating traditional ecological knowledge, we prioritize growing locally sourced native plants to strengthen native habitats and the diverse wildlife they support. 

*For guidance on planting native plants on your property, please contact our friends at Go Beyond Beauty. While GTRLC’s restoration and ecological efforts are limited to our preserves, natural areas and lands protected with conservation easements, Go Beyond Beauty is a great resource for native plant expertise on private properties.

Although many natural lands GTRLC protects remain relatively unspoiled, others require active restoration due to past human impacts. We prioritize large-scale restoration projects that enhance habitat quality and ecosystem resilience. 

Our stewardship team uses a variety of tools and techniques, often in combination, to meet our management goals for each property, including:

• Prescribed burns
• Native seed installation
• Invasive species removal
• Native plug planting
• Sustainable forestry

Restoration is an ongoing, long-term commitment that requires significant effort. However, a cascade of ecological benefits—improved habitat, increased biodiversity and stronger natural resilience—are well worth the hard work. 

GTRLC strives to deepen our understanding of the places we protect by engaging researchers, volunteers and experts to study and explore our properties. We are fortunate to have access to statewide specialists in various fields of natural resources who generously contribute their time and expertise to helping us learn more about the diverse plant and animal species found on our protected lands.

Through programs like eBird and iNaturalist, preserve visitors can contribute to this work by documenting species they encounter on our publicly accessible lands. These observations help guide management decisions, from identifying priority areas for restoration and invasive species control to trail and infrastructure locations. Learn more about our community science initiatives here. 

Research on our nature preserves is another valuable tool that helps us better understand the lands we manage while advancing scientific knowledge about the natural world. Our preserves have served as research sites for studies on the impacts of climate change, species-level interactions and pathways for the introduction of exotic pests. GTRLC considers our properties as living laboratories, and we welcome collaborations with universities and independent researchers. If you’re interested in conducting research on a GTRLC property, please complete our Research Request Form.

GTRLC views agriculture as a form of land stewardship. At Misty Acres Farm, we employ best practices while demonstrating and experimenting with new and innovative farming techniques. 

Our work aims to steward this property through sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices that increase harmony between natural and working lands. Our approach focuses on:

• Conserving resources 
• Protecting soil health
• Promoting biodiversity
• Reducing chemical inputs
• Improving climate resilience 

By demonstrating our knowledge and resources, we are working to support a thriving agricultural community in northern Michigan, empowering farmers to implement conservation-minded practices that are good for both the land and their bottom line.

To learn more about the agricultural stewardship of Misty Acres Farm, download our brochure here.