To the editor:

I read the Oct. 22 article, “Proposal for 34,000-acre public nature park faces monumental challenges” with interest, especially as I noted that The Nature Conservancy in Michigan (TNC) was referenced. To be clear, at this time, TNC is not taking a position specifically related to Mr. Wendt’s proposal of a 34,600-acre county/township park.

TNC has a long history in the Keweenaw, including the creation of our Mary Macdonald Preserve at Horseshoe Harbor and our Helmut and Candice Stern Preserve at Mt. Baldy. One of my first projects as Michigan State Director was the Conservancy’s acquisition and transfer of more than 6,000 acres at the tip of the Keweenaw to the State of Michigan, including five miles of the Montreal River. And, just a decade ago, we helped Eagle Harbor Township secure the overlook at the west end of Brockway Mountain for the public to enjoy forever.

The Keweenaw Peninsula and Keweenaw County are special places. The article correctly stated that TNC is evaluating whether our organization can help the community maintain all the benefits it currently receives from the lands TRG wishes to sell, including public access and use, support of the local economy, maintenance of wildlife habitat, cultural and scenic resources, and tax base. We have been spending time talking with many local leaders and interest groups to listen and learn more about their ideas about how to protect these benefits, and to understand if there is a role for us to help. What is clear is that an undertaking of this scale is a big lift, and, to achieve this goal, it will require the support of everyone interested in the future of the Keweenaw.

I have been in Keweenaw County several times over the past few months, and each time, I am reminded that it is truly a unique place; there is no other quite like it. Our entire team at The Nature Conservancy hopes to learn how we might play a productive role in helping the Keweenaw community achieve its goals and vision for this land that so many individuals have shared with us.