Advocacy Corner
SAVE THE SIBLEY PRAIRIE FUNDRAISER NOW UNDERWAY! SEE BELOW!
Welcome to the Advocacy Corner, where regular updates on Environmental Advocacy Initiatives/Legislation of interest to MBS members will be posted!
MBS Membership in MEC
Michigan Botanical Society (MBS) is a member of the Michigan Environmental Council (MEC), an environmental policy and advocacy organization. MEC acts as an organizing body to coordinate policy and legislative initiatives among over 100 participating environmental and conservation groups in Michigan. Their policy priorities focus on the following seven critical areas: Climate and Energy, Water, Land and Wildlife, Health and Justice, Transportation, Waste Reduction and Democracy and Good Governance.
Currently, MEC is working on the following environmental campaigns: Affordable Healthy Homes, Comprehensive Climate and Energy Reform, Statewide Septic Code, Rulemaking Restoration for EGLE (Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy), Polluter Pay regulations, Cumulative (Industrial) Impacts Assessment, Transportation GHG (Green House Gas) Reduction, Michigan Bottle Deposit Reform and Critical Dunes protections.
Link to MEC website: Home - Michigan Environmental Council
Planned Activity
The Advocacy Corner will be reviewing and reporting on MEC activities of relevance to MBS and any “calls to action” that may prompt participation in initiatives or show of support for legislation via communications with our State Government in Lansing.
Other Organizations
Updates from other environmental organizations and initiatives will be highlighted to keep MBS informed and engaged as stakeholders in protecting our native plant communities. Land Conservancy, Natural Areas Preservation organizations, educational institutions and government organizations, among others, operate within the HVC area and statewide to preserve, protect, restore and provide educational opportunities for natural areas.
Current Issues of Interest:
SAVE THE SIBLEY PRAIRIE - FUNDRAISING HAS BEGUN!
Sibley Prairie is a 440 acre site in Brownstown Township (Wayne County) Michigan containing the largest and highest quality lakeplain prairie remnant in Michigan. The Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) has identified it as the highest-quality lakeplain prairie remnant in the state (of 53 surveyed) and boasts a Floristic Quality Index of 69.95 and supports 15 threatened or special concern plant species and the state-threatened Duke’s skipper butterfly. This property is being put up for sale by a private owner at an upcoming auction. The Sibley Prairie Steering Committee has been formed to coordinate efforts of local and national conservancy and conservation organizations to save this rare and unique site from development. A more detailed description of the background and current status of this site is provided:
See map below (a little confusing in its orientation) for the location of the site, which is bounded by Telegraph Road (U.S. 24) on the east side, King Road on the south side and Sibley Road on the north side (unlabeled) with property boundaries highlighted in yellow:
A recent Detroit News article was written regarding the efforts to preserve this site. For those of you who have a subscription to the Detroit News, you can access the article via the link below:
Sibley Prairie - Detroit News Article
The Michigan Botanical Society is actively involved in the effort to save this invaluable resource. Conservation partners are currently exploring options for the preservation of this land, including outright purchase of the property. Updates will be provided regarding this effort as they develop as well as further instructions on how you can help.
What you can do now:
UPDATE: 9/3/25 FUNDRAISER
Great News! The owner of this property has agreed to give the Michigan Land Conservancy (MLC) an option to buy the property with a deadline of the end of 2026 to procure and pay the balance of the price offered by the MLC. We are now in fundraising mode! Conservation organizations involved in this effort (MBS) must collectively raise $6 million by the end of 2026 to purchase the land. The short-term goal is to raise $1 million by year’s end. So, your generous donations will assist greatly in this effort. Please consider a donation to this very important initiative that is of statewide and global significance. Link to the donation site is included herein:
Thanks in advance for your generosity!!
Your participation and continued support is appreciated.
Jack Pine Weave Plantations and Pine Barrens
The Michigan Botanical Society has continued to be aware of the impact to Michigan’s globally rare native pine barrens habitats from the introduction of jack pine weave “plantations” to these habitats in the very important endeavor to save the endangered Kirtland’s Warbler. Native pine barrens habitats have already been reduced by 98% of their historical range. MBS feels compelled to communicate our concern regarding this issue to the Kirtland’s Warbler conservation community with a deep commitment to the continued success of this species. The Conservation Advocacy Committee has drafted a position statement to address this issue. We believe that efforts to conserve the warbler and restore pine barrens can—and should—go hand in hand.
MBS’ position is to encourage a shift in future planting efforts away from remaining intact barrens and toward previously disturbed areas, such as existing mature plantations. We also encourage increased protection of the remaining barrens and an expanded use of prescribed fire as a core management approach.
A copy of the full position statement is enclosed herein:
Pine Barrens Position Statement
Information on this topic is intended to increase awareness of this issue within the MBS membership so that we can further support the efforts of both conservation of pine barrens and Kirtland’s Warbler conservation going forward.
Copperwood Mine
The Copperwood Mine is a proposed mine adjacent to the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. If the Copperwood Mine project goes forward it will have significant environmental impacts to the area surrounding it, including Lake Superior. The Copperwood Mine project is currently owned by Highland Copper. Some of the anticipated impacts include:
Copperwood Mine plans to pull water from Lake Superior for industrial use, destroy streams and wetlands, and radically alter the hydrology of the site.
Mining impacts (airborne pollutants, soils and waters contaminated with heavy metals) will degrade the natural habitat of the Porcupine Mountains, especially the Presque Isle Scenic Area and the Presque Isle Rustic Campground. Because the Copperwood Mine would be developed adjacent to the west end of the Porkies, it threatens the park’s wild and scenic values, including dark skies, clean waters, quiet environment, and a diverse ecological habitat supporting old-growth forests and predators. Several popular waterfalls are located in this area, including Manabezho Falls, Manido Falls and Nawadaha Falls.
Copperwood Mine will produce an enormous quantity of waste — tailings and waste rock — which will be stored in huge tailings basins, on site, forever.
What will happen in the future? Based on exploration drilling results, Highland Copper aims to mine underneath Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park land (“Porkies”). In statements to investors, Highland Copper has described this as as a phased operation, pursuing an orebody which extends underneath park land, under the scenic Presque Isle River and possibly underneath Lake Superior. In light of these statements, the Copperwood Mine permits’ total environmental impacts (based on the duration of the operation) are significantly underestimated. If the mine’s operational life is extended, the total quantity of waste will greatly increase, and plans for closure and reclamation will be delayed.
Highland Copper talks about developing a MINING DISTRICT in this area, encompassing lands on both ends of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, including the “White Pine North” project at the historic White Pine mine and mill site, 21 miles east of the Copperwood project. The White Pine site could potentially be used for milling ore and the permanent storage of environmentally hazardous mine waste. The White Pine site includes enormous historic tailings basins and contaminated brownfields; the tailings basins are so large they can be seen from space. The White Pine project is stalled, due to liability and financing concerns.
Highland Copper’s interest in redeveloping the White Pine Mine site raises legacy contamination concerns. The site included an ore-refining smelter with a 500′ tall stack; new research shows that mercury emissions from White Pine Smelter contaminated a wide swath of the Upper Peninsula. See: Kerfoot, W. Charles et al. Mining legacy across a wetland landscape: High mercury in Upper Peninsula (Michigan) rivers, lakes, and fish. Full article available. Mercury emissions from the White Pine Smelter were approximately “640 kg per year” (1411 pounds). New mining activities in this area risk contributing new contamination, on top of legacy mine contamination.
The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is a rugged, remote park located on the shore of Lake Superior, “grabbing widespread recognition alongside fabled national parks like Yosemite and the Black Hills” according to MLive.com. Cumulative environmental impacts to the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness area are greatly underestimated.
Access to the full report by the Mining Action Group including maps:
ACTION ITEM! Deadline is impending.
You can add your voice to this critical issue by having your opinion heard regarding an upcoming vote (possibly this month, September) in the Michigan Senate to provide $50 million dollars in funds for infrastructure to support this project:
Fight Michigan Funding for Copperwood Infrastructure
Please consider contacting your state lawmakers regarding this issue!
Thanks!!
Neonicatinoid (Neonics) Pesticide Impacts
Neonicatinoid Pesticide (Neonics) use in U.S. Agriculture has been identified as having major impacts on insect populations and in particular, our pollinator species, effecting both agricultural crops and native plants. They have been described as one of the most ecologically destructive pesticides of our times and pose those same impacts here in Michigan. Information and action items on impacts of use of neonics on our State’s pollinators and the public health are included herein. Background information is provided via this link:
Neonics Background Information
UPDATE (June):
A new report, “Neonicotinoid Pesticides in Michigan: Surface Water Contamination and Threats to Aquatic Ecosystems” has just been released on a study further illustrating the impacts to Michigan’s Ecosystems by these pesticides. Please see the link below to the MEC website page on this topic which includes a link to the full report:
Please consider signing a letter to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARP) expressing your concerns:
Tell MDARD: Protect Our Health, Pollinators, and Water from Toxic Neonic Pollution
Thanks!!
“Better Bottle Bill” proposed by the MEC:
The Michigan Environmental Council (MEC) is proposing an update to Michigan’s current bottle bill to address the significant amount of non-carbonated beverage containers that are not covered by the current bill. Water bottles and containers for sports drinks, juices and others would be added to the bottle deposit and refund approach to keeping bottles and cans from littering our landscapes and ending up in landfills. Review of the current allocation of funds from unclaimed deposits as well as proposals to improve the return process are addressed.
You can add your name to the petition below to communicate to our legislators the need to update and improve the existing law:
Bottle Bill Petition - Michigan Environmental Council
For additional information you can visit the MEC website dedicated to this issue:
Better Bottle Bill - Michigan Environmental Council
HVC Issue: Save the Arb! No Monorail impacting Nichols Arboretum!
The University of Michigan is proposing an elevated monorail (Campus Connector) that would facilitate commuting between Central, North and the Medical campuses in Ann Arbor. A proposed location of the monorail through and over areas of the Nichols Arboretum would have adverse effects on its ecological and historical significance as well as impact the experience of its users.
UPDATE (JUNE), GOOD NEWS!: Good news received in a recent communication from the University of Michigan (June 6, 2025) regarding their position on impacts to the Arboretum from the proposed Automated Transit System (Campus Connector). See Link below to UofM update including “What about the Arb?” Please read!! To quote:
“…U-M plans to only consider potential routes that would not pass through the Arb.”
UofM Automated Transit System Update
The Michigan Botanical Society, Huron Valley Chapter, submitted a letter to Santa J. Ono, President, University of Michigan expressing concern regarding the proposed Campus Connector project impacting the Nichols Arboretum. See the letter (Dated 4/4/25) from Neal Billetdeaux, our Chapter President, via the link below:
MBS Letter to University of Michigan
Below is a link to a petition currently being circulated in order to add your voice to the request to reconsider this plan:
For additional information and background on this issue, please see the letter written by the former Director of the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum and professor emeritus, Bob Grese, to the President of the University of Michigan:
- 9/3/25