Nature Conservancy Expanding Wildlife Corridor in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

A wildlife corridor in the Upper Peninsula is expanding to allow more animals to migrate and adapt to climate change.

The nonprofit Nature Conservancy has purchased nearly 5,000 acres of land to expand the corridor. The area consists of 19,000 acres of preserved land and includes Wilderness Lakes Reserve and Craig Lake State Park.

“Many years of research shows that this part of Michigan … ranks as some of the most resilient in the face of climate change. And that prioritizes that for us for conservation for wildlife corridors.” –Helen Taylor, state director in Michigan at The Nature Conservancy

Helen Taylor, state director in Michigan at The Nature Conservancy, says the protected land includes wetlands and large lakes.

“Many years of research shows that this part of Michigan … ranks as some of the most resilient in the face of climate change. And that prioritizes that for us for conservation for wildlife corridors,” she says.

Jason Whalen/Big Foot Media

Taylor says expanding the footprint will allow more wildlife to migrate and adapt to climate change.

“I’ve been a lot of places in the state. I’ve seen a lot of beautiful things. But this is an area of the state where it is just some of the most true wilderness that I’ve experienced. And it’s a really important habitat for moose with the wetlands,” she says.

Taylor says the nonprofit hopes to sustainably manage the forest to increase biodiversity and decrease the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. The reserve is open to the public for hunting and recreation.