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Michigan’s state-owned
public lands are in
danger of reaching
an ecological tipping
point, according to a
groundbreaking report
written by Environment
Michigan Research
& Policy Center.
“Pure
Michigan? Protecting
One Million Acres of
Our Natural Heritage” describes key threats
facing public lands and recommends bold action
to immediately protect 1 million of the most
vulnerable and valuable acres.
“Michigan’s travel and tourism campaign touts
our state as ‘Pure Michigan,’” said Environment
Michigan Research & Policy Director Mike Shriberg. “Unfortunately, we don’t deserve this label if
we continue to allow special interests to degrade
our most valuable public resources—our forests
and waterways.”
Immediate threats to our state-owned public
lands outlined in the report include:
• The logging industry’s attempts to turn state
forests into tree farms through legislation that
would require timber sales on nearly all
public lands.
• A looming resurgence of hazardous mining in
the U.P., including a proposal for a sulfide mine
in the pristine headwaters of a stream near
Lake Superior.
• Sales of state parks and other treasured lands
to private developers.
• Proposals to increase oil and gas drilling in the
AuSable watershed, Pigeon River area and other wild areas.
Click Here for a summary or to download the full report. |
