Sen. Jason Allen today joined local conservationists and business leaders to announce legislation that will help preserve more land in Michigan. The measures were unveiled at a news conference at the Traverse City Chamber of Commerce as part of a series of events associated with the second annual Michigan Conservation Week.

To help promote the importance of conservation, the state Senate has designated April 20-26 as Michigan Conservation Week with an emphasis on land preservation efforts. 

“We must be wise stewards,” said Allen, who chairs the Senate Committee on Commerce and Tourism. “Michigan’s future is linked to its natural resources. These preservation efforts will play a pivotal role in maintaining our quality of life and helping us reach our full economic potential in the years ahead.”

Allen will soon introduce legislation to create a tax incentive for businesses that make conservation donations. Other measures announced this week will help increase available funds used to purchase and develop recreational land through the Natural Resources Trust Fund and provide an income tax credit for the voluntary donation of land or land rights. 

Local land preservation projects were highlighted by area businessmen and members of the conservation community, including Bob Sutherland, owner of Cherry Republic and Jon Carlson, co-owner of Old Mission Historic Development LLC.

Earlier this year, Carlson protected Bower Harbor Inn on the Old Mission Peninsula by partnering with the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy to place a voluntary conservation easement on the property. A conservation easement is a legal agreement between a landowner and a government agency that permanently limits uses of the land to protect its conservation values. 

Glen Chown,executive director for the conservancy, said that protecting land can significantly impact the state’s economy.

“Michigan is a special place to live, work, and play,” said Chown. “It is the mission of Michigan’s land conservancies to keep it that way by protecting our most strategic natural assets—pristine wetlands, lush forests, majestic dunes, sandy beaches, and working lands. The future of farming in our region depends in part on our elected and appointed officials’ leadership and commitment to agriculture and land conservation.”

A recent study completed by Michigan State University found that Michigan’s agri-food system contributes $60 billion to the state economy and employs more than a million people. 

Through the efforts of Michigan land conservancies, more than 400,000 acres of shoreline, forests, unique agricultural land, and other special land areas have been protected for future generations. 

Conservation Week provides a great opportunity to promote the important work of Michigan's nonprofit land conservancies, said Rachel Kuntzsch, executive director of Heart of the Lakes Center for Land Conservation Policy. Land conservancies play an important role in partnering with state and local government in their land protection efforts. We are pleased to support the bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the House and Senate.

For the past five years, the Michigan Senate has led the way on natural resource initiatives, including current ballast water laws; legislation that would adopt the Great Lakes Compact and accompanying water withdrawal measures; and renewable energy measures.   

For more information about Michigan Conservation Week, visit www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/conservation.