The Nature Conservancy Moves One Step Closer to Protecting 31,000 Acres of the Keweenaw Peninsula

Nearly 31,000 acres of land in the Keweenaw Peninsula will remain natural. Last week The Nature Conservancy (TNC) announced their purchase of three of four parcels, from The Rohatyn Group (TRG). The 22,700 acres from TRG, cost the conservancy fair market value of 27.2 million dollars. One of the biggest hurdles to the purchase agreement was the conservancy’s need to find a land management partner, who would eventually take over ownership of the heartland’s after a to be determined period of time. Those details are still being worked on by the Keweenaw Planning Committee.

“It is enrolled in the Commercial Forestry Program of Michigan. And because we anticipate, having to hold it for a while, until we figure out who owns it long-term, we are required to put together a forest management plan. And so we’re going to begin that right away. So we can submit that to the state under because that’s required under CFA. So the fourth parcel, will be to acquire around 8,900 acres. And so we feel very fortunate that a very conservation minded buyer, has purchased that parcel, and agreed to sell the bulk of that to us.” – Helen Taylor, The Nature Conservancy, State Director of Michigan

The Nature Conservancy hopes to take over ownership of another 8,900 acres in order to complete the 31,000 acre Keweenaw Heartlands. With the purchase the Nature Conservancy will retain the rights to all of the trails, historic structures and mineral rights in the purchase. The Keweenaw Peninsula is a rich land full of incredible animals, plants, and geological formations. Forged out of a one billion year old lava flows, and shaped by icy glaciers and the fresh water of Lake Superior, the Keweenaw’s wild lands will remain for future generations.

Learn more about the Nature Conservancy and the Keweenaw Heartlands at Keweenawcommunityfoundation.org/Keweenaw-land-project.