On June 5th, the Department of Natural Resources approved the resolution to designate Carney Fen as a Natural Area - permanently protecting 2,326 acres of forest and marsh in the Upper Peninsula. The decision caps a longstanding effort by Environment Michigan and its allies to protect the area from logging and encroaching development.
Located in Escanaba State Forest near the Wisconsin border, Carney Fen features 24 species of orchids, as well as opportunities for hunting, hiking, and enjoying the natural beauty of the Upper Peninsula.
"Director Humphries' decision to protect Carney Fen is a great way to start the vacation season," said Danielle Korpalski, Environmental Associate with Environment Michigan. "We applaud her leadership on this issue."
DNR's decision to designate Carney Fen under the state's 1972 Wilderness and Natural Areas Act places the area off-limits to activities that could interfere with recreation or damage its ecology - including mining, drilling, logging, and development. As documented by Environment Michigan, such activities are a growing threat to the state's treasured northern landscapes. Last year, the timber industry and its allies in Lansing renewed their demands for increased logging of state forests. And the group's recent report "Drilling Our Future" documented the massive increase of oil and gas claims on state lands up north.
And so, while Environment Michigan celebrates today's victory on Carney Fen, the group is also working with DNR to protect other northern lands -including Tahquamenon Falls, Lake Superior State Forest and Wilderness State Park. In fact, Governor Milliken designed the 1972 law to allow DNR to protect up to 450,000 acres of Michigan land.
"For decades, Michigan has longed for the leadership to fulfill Governor Milliken's vision," said Korpalski. "If Director Humphries continues using her leadership as she has today, it might well be her legacy to keep the UP a special place for generations of Michiganders."
