MICHIGAN BOTANICAL SOCIETY

SOUTHWESTERN CHAPTER PROGRAM

Floodplain Forests

Mitch Lettow, Stewardship Director, Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy

Monday January 15, 2024 @ 7:00 PM

Peoples Church, 1758 10th St. N, Kalamazoo MI 49009

(Socializing begins at 6:30)

With 18 public nature preserves, 37 refuge preserves and hundreds of private conservation easements, the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy (SWMLC) is a significant conservation organization in our part of the state.  They protect all types of natural communities from dunes, marshes, and fens to floodplain and mesic forests.  Join Mitch Lettow, Stewardship Director at SWMLC to learn more about floodplain forests, their hydrological role and rich biodiversity.  SWMLC has preserved numerous outstanding floodplain forests, so Mitch has lots of firsthand knowledge to share. A number of focal and large conservation projects in the region focused on growing even more protection around some of our incredible floodplain forest complexes will also be highlighted.

 As SWMLC’s Stewardship Director, Mitch focuses on restoring natural processes and biodiversity on their many preserves, as well as learning from and working with many volunteers and community members who are critical to long-term stewardship and conservation. Mitch has a B.S. and M.S. in Environmental Biology/Zoology and Entomology from Michigan State University.

All indoor programs are at the People’s Church, 1758 N 10th St, Kalamazoo, 49009.  Socializing begins at 6:30 pm and the programs begin at 7:00 pm.  Non-members are always welcome to join us for programs and field trips.  Masks are recommended but not required in the church.