More than 160,000 acres of land were lost to development in southeast Michigan between 1990 and 2000.

Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy's Annual Picnic Potluck!

Sunday, September 12th
1:00p.m. - 5:00p.m.

Location: Conservancy Farm, 8383 Vreeland Road, Superior Township, MI 48198

Come by for a great day at the farm!

Pot luck and barbecue: Please bring a favorite dish to pass or something to put on the grill. We'll provide hot dogs, brats, veggie dogs, and soft drinks for everyone. Bring your own place setting to reduce waste. This event is open to everyone - your friends and family are invited along with you. Bring along $ for the raffle. Your donations will be welcome and support the cost of the picnic.

LIVE WILDLIFE: Animal Adaptations
A program with live animals from the Organization for Bat Conservation will be from 3:30 - 4:30p.m. Come see how unique features of bats, flying squirrels, owls and other animals allow them to survive in the kinds of habitats that SMLC protects. There will be kid's activities and tours of the farm and gardens that your contributions help protect.

Your Dollars Count

In February 2010, The Carls Foundation awarded SMLC a $150,000 2 year challenge grant. If SMLC can raise $75,000 by 12-31-10, The Carls Foundation will match that dollar-for-dollar. You can help!

Every dollar southeast Michigan residents, corporations, and foundations donate to SMLC prior to the end of the year counts towards our "We Care" campaign and helps us secure this matching grant.

Please do your part to help protect local nature by giving to SMLC today.

Click here to read SMLC's Spring Appeal Letter

Click here to make a secure online donation

Click here to read the Spring issue of the SMLC newsletter Landmarks.

Photo by Charles Scott

Local Division News:

Superior Land Conservancy mailed out a newsletter to supporters in July 2010.

Click here to read the newsletter (PDF)

Good News! Since 2006 members of the Monroe County Land Conservancy, a local division of Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy, have been involved in a large conservation project that is located in the heart of the city of Monroe, the Academy Preserve project. This project seeks to conserve 127 acres of natural areas, farmland, and open space including valuable river frontage for use as a public nature preserve and education center. The property is currently owned by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM). The IHM Sisters have agreed to work with the Friends of the Academy Preserve and the property would be held by the County of Monroe once the project is completed.

In December 2008, the Friends of the Academy Preserve secured the second part of a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant. This grant totals $2.2 million and covers 75% of the purchase price of the land. The Friends continue to work hard to raise the required 25% matching funds needed for the purchase. Current project work includes a land survey and two separate land appraisals, which are requirements of the State grant. When these items are complete purchase negotiations with the IHM Sisters can begin.

Gifts in support of the Academy Preserve project can be given to either the Community Foundation of Monroe County (734-242-1976) which has set up a project fund or to SMLC which will pass on the gift to the project fund.