The Keweenaw Community Foundation has launched a special fund to help support local management, sustainable access and long-term care of some 20,000 acres of the Keweenaw Heartlands.
Campaign funds will help launch community-led governance, provide funds for operations and management costs, support engagement efforts, and ensure the Heartlands remain "healthy, accessible and protect for future generations."
The community foundation's efforts build upon The Nature Conservancy's historic purchase of more than 30,000 acres on the Keweenaw Peninsula to protect diverse ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, rivers and trails for permanent public access.
"Since early 2022, the Keweenaw Community Foundation has proudly partnered with The Nature Conservancy, the (state Department of Natural Resources), and our local community to support this incredible project," said Robin Meneguzzo, executive director of the Keweenaw Community Foundation. "We've helped keep the community informed and engaged throughout the entire process."
What's happening: The Keweenaw Community Foundation has created a special project fund to support local management, sustainable access, and long-term care of approximately 20,000 acres of newly protected public forest land in Keweenaw County. The Nature Conservancy
purchased the 30,000-plus-acre tract in 2022 to ensure permanent public access.
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Keweenaw Community FoundationFundraising: Some $600,000 is needed to launch a community-led governance structure for the first three years; $300,000 has already been committed.
Why the Heartlands matter: The Keweenaw Heartlands comprise more than 30,000 acres of forestland, 38 miles of rivers and inland lake shoreline, 4,000 acres of wetlands and three miles of Lake Superior shoreline. The Heartlands "clean the region's air and filters the water that flows into the Great Lakes," according to a news release from the Keweenaw Community Foundation. In addition. the Heartlands offer numerous opportunities for the public to connect with nature and enjoy the outdoors, thanks to more than 75 miles of motorized and non-motorized trails and significant opportunities for hiking and fishing.
The peninsula's forests are habitat for gray wolf, bobcat, black bear, pine marten and migratory songbirds. The area is also a vital rest stop for migrating raptors.
The Nature Conservancy has called the peninsula a global priority for both biodiversity and climate resiliency, and noted its purchase represented “an opportunity to protect an extraordinary region for both nature and people.”
What they're saying: "This is our moment, as a community, to come together and invest in a legacy we can all be proud of. We invite everyone to join this effort by making a gift to the support the future of the Keweenaw," Meneguzzo said.
About the Keweenaw Community Foundation: The foundation’s purpose is to support a thriving community through collaboratively matching community needs with resources to improve quality of life. The Keweenaw foundation is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Upper Peninsula, a registered non-profit charitable organization.
To donate: Donors can contribute a one-time or monthly gift online; host a fundraiser or awareness event to rally local support; consider a matching gift or planned giving; share this opportunity with friends, family and community networks; or mail a check to Keweenaw Community Foundation, PO Box 265, Hancock, MI 49930 (memo line: Keweenaw Heartlands Forest Fund).
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