If your plans for the upcoming weekend include hiking or biking on a scenic forest trail, a family picnic at the beach, small game hunting, camping at a state park – or one of the countless other outdoor experiences Michiganders enjoy – chances are, you value our state’s public lands.
This Saturday, Sept. 25, is National Public Lands Day, a day dedicated to appreciating public lands.
The nation’s largest single-day volunteer event for public lands, established in 1994 and held annually on the fourth Saturday in September, this celebration brings out thousands of volunteers to help restore and improve public lands around the country. It offers those who love the outdoors an opportunity to show their gratitude for these valuable natural resources through trail restoration, park cleanups and other events.
Fishing on Frenchman’s Lake
Fishing on Frenchman’s Lake, Chippewa County
This year’s event maintains and builds on the theme of “More Ways to Connect to Nature.”
According to the National Public Lands Day website, “While virtual events were a necessity for many NPLD site managers last year, they have also proven to be an invaluable tool for connecting a wider, more diverse range of people to iconic parks, national forests, marine estuaries and other public lands sites. This year, our goal is to highlight that diversity – in public lands, people, and the ways in which we value and care for these spaces – by supporting in-person, virtual and hybrid NPLD events.”
Find a National Public Lands Day event near you or a virtual event.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has spent much of the past two years developing an updated strategy for the approximately 4.6 million acres of public lands the department is responsible for taking care of, which are owned by Michigan state forests, game and wildlife areas, state parks, trails, boating access sites, and more.
The public land strategy, submitted to the Michigan Legislature in July and available at Michigan.gov/PublicLands, was developed through a collaborative process that included multiple opportunities for the public and stakeholders statewide to get involved and help shape the final document.
The new land strategy will be implemented between 2021 and 2027, following consideration and approval by the Legislature. It sets goals, strategies and measurable objectives to guide the DNR in:
- Protecting and preserving Michigan’s natural and cultural resources.
- Providing spaces for quality outdoor recreation opportunities.
- Performing responsible natural resource management.
An excerpt from the strategy sums up why public lands are so important:
DNR Forester Dan McNamee inspects the harvest of an active timber sale in Delta Co.DNR Forester Dan McNamee inspects the harvest of an active timber sale in Delta Co.
“When lands are well taken care of, they strengthen the state in several ways. For example, public lands support Michigan’s environmental well-being with healthy forests protecting and promoting water quality. Additionally, caring for vegetation protects against erosion. They provide residents with ample outdoor recreation opportunities – often very close to home – to be physically active, clear away mental stress and discover new pursuits. These public lands also play a key role in Michigan’s economic health by enhancing local and regional economies.”
In the Upper Peninsula, with millions of acres of public land offering abundant outdoor recreation opportunities and supporting the region’s industry, public lands are essential.
“Public lands are what makes the U.P. the U.P.,” said George Lindquist, a member of the DNR Western Upper Peninsula Citizens’ Advisory Council and the Michigan United Conservation Clubs Board of Directors and trustee for U.P. Whitetails of Marquette County.
“Us Yoopers tend to take it for granted that we can just go fish, hunt, pick blueberries, drive endless two tracks, and hike or bike the ever-increasing trail systems. Truth is, no one in the U.P. has to go far to do any, or all of these things. DNR-managed lands are key to the U.P. heritage, outdoor recreation, and showing private landowners sustainable forest management practices that benefit wildlife, protect species of concern, as well as provide valuable forest products.”
In addition to tourism, DNR-managed public lands also support other natural resources-based industries.
State forest land supplies about 20% of the timber consumed by the forest products industry statewide. The industry contributes $20.2 billion and more than 91,000 jobs to the economy annually.
Approximately 599,000 acres of DNR-managed mineral rights are leased for mineral exploration and extraction. The mineral extraction industry contributes over $20 million and 5,000 jobs to the Michigan economy annually.
Taking care of Michigan’s public land thoughtfully and carefully in many ways drives the quality of life we all value. When our lands are well managed, Michiganders see the benefits – healthier families and environment and a stronger economy.
That’s something to appreciate not just on National Public Lands Day, but any time you find yourself enjoying Michigan’s great outdoors.
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