Eagle River: Julia Petersen, the project manager for the Keweenaw Heartlands project at the Nature Conservancy of Michigan, presented an outline for the recommended governance model of the Heartlands property at the Keweenaw County board meeting on Wednesday. The purpose of her presentation was not for immediate action, but to gather feedback and address any questions from the board members.

Petersen informed the board that the Nature Conservancy (TNC) is currently the temporary owner of the vast 32,000-acre forestland. The intended period of their ownership is expected to be between 3 to 5 years, allowing residents and stakeholders to determine the long-term ownership structure of the Keweenaw Heartlands.

“We used the results of public engagement, which led to the acquisition,” Petersen explained, “to identify the values and principles that the community holds dear for this land. We worked closely with the community and the Planning Committee to establish the values and principles of management and governance.”

The principles that were identified placed a strong emphasis on accountability, transparency, and the ability to effectively manage the land. These principles guided the development of a draft Governance Model.

“In this draft Governance Model,” added Petersen, “public ownership is given paramount importance.”

The draft Governance Model outlines five key principles, which are as follows:
1. A diverse representative structure
2. Balanced term lengths and office tenure
3. Principles-based management
4. Public accountability
5. Organizational competence

“The community expressed a strong desire to protect the cultural and natural resources while ensuring the health of the forest,” Petersen revealed.

Under the proposed governance model, the forestland will continue to be managed as a long-term, working forest, providing a reliable source of government revenue as it has done in the past. Ensuring public access to the land in perpetuity has been a clear goal from the outset.

“This has been a long and laborious process,” Petersen acknowledged. “Many of the members involved in constructing this draft model are present in this room tonight. I am thrilled to present this draft to you for the first time, and although this may not be the final presentation, we will continue to gather feedback over the next couple of months and make any necessary adjustments.”

For more information on the Keweenaw Heartlands Project, including archives and updates dating back to October 27, 2022, visit the Keweenaw Area Community Foundation website at https://www.keweenawcommunityfoundation.org/keweenaw-heartlands-project.

Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter for breaking news and more.