Resources for CE Land Owners

As a conservation easement landowner, protecting the conservation values of your property is important.

On this page, you will find information about:

♦  Invasive Plant Species
♦  Landscape Stewardship Plan guide
♦  Events & Workshops
♦  Conservation Programs & Grant Opportunities for Landowners
♦  Longview, SWMLC’s special newsletter for conservation easement landowners

Invasive Plant Species

Invasive plant species are one of the greatest threats to an ecosystem. Invasive plants aggressively out-compete native plants, destroying the quality of a natural area by affecting wildlife habitat, water quality, and biodiversity in general. If you think you have invasive plants on your property and would like to begin managing them on your own, here are a few steps you can take to ensure the best results.
As always, don’t forget to contact us before you begin any large-scale management projects!

1. Be sure to identify the plant correctly.
2. Scout your property to understand the full extent of the infestation.
3. Based on your observations, devise a “plan of attack” and choose your methods.
4. Always monitor your populations after treatment, and know that it might take multiple treatments to ensure complete kill.

Another Great Resource for Land Owners

Funded by the US Forest Service through the Stewardship Network, Dr. Hugh Brown has created an informative document called Landscape Stewardship Plan: Barry, Calhoun, Kalamazoo Counties, Michigan. Though it is specific to the Barry-Calhoun-Kalamazoo area, the information is fresh (2017) and relevant to most of our larger service area. It offers background into the natural history of our area, stories of how other landowners are approaching management, and a listing of conservation services (including consulting, forestry, invasive species management) in our region. Click here or on the image to link to the PDF.

Pierce Cedar Creek Institute is both a nature center and biological field station.  The Institute provides a wide range of activities and learning experiences, from establishing a backyard wildlife habitat and increasing home energy efficiency, to guided nature hikes and lectures on ecological and environmental topics.

Sarett Nature Center

This unique nature center, located in southwest Michigan’s Berrien County, has eight miles of trails meandering through its 1,000 acres.  Sarett Nature Center provides natural science education to people of all ages in our community.

Conservation Programs and Grant Opportunities for Landowners

Partners for Fish and Wildlife

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners Program has funds to support habitat restoration on private lands with focus on wetland and grassland restoration, such as ditch plugging, stabilizing stream banks, or prairie plantings.  There is match required, but landowner time can be included.

more information

The following conservation programs are available to landowners for extra incentives and can be written to be complementary with the conservation easement on your property.

To find out more information about one of these programs and learn how to enroll, contact your local Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), or Conservation District office:

Take the Long View

Each year the land protection department puts together a newsletter for our conservation easement landowners. In doing so, we hope to strengthen relationships between SWMLC and our CE landowners, serve as a resource for land management ideas, and convey conservation-related news.

2017

2014

2011