Algonac State Park on path to permanent protection
After
talking to more than 50,000 Michiganders and delivering over 10,000
public comments to Gov. Jennifer Granholm as part of the Million Acres
Project, Environment Michigan applauds the dedication of 200 acres of
Prairie and Savanna Oak Natural Areas in Algonac State Park.
For
the first time in nearly 20 years, the governor and the DNR recommended
a wilderness area for protection. As a result, pieces of the park
cannot be subject to development of any kind.
The DNR is
authorized under the Wilderness and Natural Areas Act of 1972 to
permanently protect up to 10 percent of Michigan’s land (about 450,000
acres), but so far has only dedicated 48,281 acres, leaving 98.9
percent of our land open for special interest abuse. There are 18 other
wilderness or natural areas still pending before the DNR for permanent
protection.
“We call on the governor and the DNR to use their
authority and immediately dedicate the pending 45,469 acres of unique
land found throughout Michigan’s state-owned parks and forests,” said
Environment Michigan Associate Danielle Korpalski. “By permanently
protecting these places, Michiganders can enjoy many of our most
precious places without fear of mining, logging or development.”
The successful dedication of portions of Algonac State Park is a step in the right direction for the Million Acres Project.
With
3.9 million acres of state forest and almost 3 million more of national
forest, Michigan is home to the most extensive public forest system
east of the Mississippi River and it is the DNR’s responsibility to
protect it from hazardous practices.
The DNR must use the
momentum from Algonac’s dedication and protect the remaining 18
wilderness or natural area locations, and then expand the program.
