LANSING — The value of thriving green spaces where people can spread out and enjoy nature perhaps has never been more apparent than now, as the world adapts to life with COVID-19. In Michigan, some of our most beautiful public land is made possible through the Forest Legacy Program, a nationally competitive program administered by the U.S. Forest Service that uses federal and matching funds to protect environmentally important forest lands.

Projects include lands that are home to threatened or endangered species, wildlife corridors, or rivers and streams. The most recent example is the nearly 600 acres of prime elk habitat added to the Pigeon River Country State Forest earlier this year, thanks to Forest Legacy Program funding. The federal program provides money to help purchase land or land rights for the public to use and enjoy for generations to come. Michigan’s program also requires that land remains open to the public, at least for nonmotorized access.

Projects nominated by June 19 will be considered to potentially compete for funding during fiscal year 2022, which begins Oct. 1, 2021. Find nomination application forms and get more information at Michigan.gov/PrivateForestLand or contact Kerry Wieber at 517-643-1256.