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New environmental assessment for Michigan landowners

Michigan landowners are now eligible to verify forests, wetlands and habitats with the state’s environmental assurance program.

Dr. Karen Potter-Witter, co-chair of the new Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) system, says the Forest, Wetlands and Habitat verification is geared toward land areas that are not in agricultural production.  “It can be farms that have forests, wetlands or habitat that they’re not using for production agricultural.”  She says, “It can also be landowners of forestland, and in Michigan we have approximately 400,000 of those landowners.”

She tells Brownfield the system takes into account numerous forest, wetland and habitat land management studies.  “The underlying concept is sustainable management in light to what the landowners objectives are—which means that we start with everything from making sure they have a plan, to addressing water quality, visual quality, sustainability in respect to the flora and fauna on the site.”

Landowners interested in the program can learn more at their local conservation district.

AUDIO: Interview with Dr. Karen Potter-Witter