Workshops Connect Northeast Michigan Landowners with Practical Tools for Long-Term Stewardship

HeadWaters Land Conservancy recently completed its Landowner Workshop Series, a year-long initiative designed to help private landowners better understand the tools and resources available for stewarding and protecting their land. Launched in early 2024 and concluding in summer of 2025, the series included ten workshops held throughout HeadWaters’ 11-county service area in northeast Michigan. With support from the Americana Foundation, the workshops brought together landowners and a network of conservation professionals to discuss habitat restoration, forest and farm management, long-term land protection, and invasive species control.

Representatives from HeadWaters Land Conservancy shared how conservation easements can help permanently protect natural and agricultural lands while keeping them in private ownership. The American Bird Conservancy offered insights into forest management strategies that support bird populations and biodiversity. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) discussed cost-share programs that provide financial and technical assistance for land improvements such as reforestation, habitat creation, and erosion control. Conservation District Foresters introduced landowners to forest stewardship planning and practical management techniques, while Huron Pines’ Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) staff explained methods for identifying and managing invasive species at various scales. The Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) rounded out the series with guidance on how farms and forests can be voluntarily verified as environmentally sound through on-site assessments and conservation planning support.

“Whether someone owns ten acres or several hundred, landowners are vital partners in conservation,” said Susanna Glass, Land Protection Specialist at HeadWaters Land Conservancy. “These workshops were about making information accessible, connecting people to local experts, and helping them take the next steps to manage their land more intentionally.”

Participants left each session with new ideas, practical resources, and connections to programs that can support their goals. Some have already begun the process of pursuing conservation easements, preparing forest management plans, or addressing invasive species.

Due to the strong interest in the series and the clear value it provides to landowners across the region, HeadWaters Land Conservancy will continue offering landowner workshops several times each year. At least one session annually will be held virtually to better serve landowners who are seasonal residents or live outside the area full-time.

“These workshops reflect our belief that conservation is not something we do alone,” said Julie Rubsam, Executive Director at HeadWaters Land Conservancy. “It happens through relationships with landowners, with community organizations, and with the land itself.”