Adopting a Piece of State Land

On Monday, Magazine Editor Nick Green and I joined Pheasants Forever and several other conservation partners at the Maple River State Game Area. We spent about 1.5 hours standing in a muddy parking lot overlooking a field of cool-season grasses, to highlight one of the newest habitat programs in the state. Spearheaded by Pheasants Forever with funding assistance from the DNR and Hall and Jean Glassen Memorial Foundation the Adopt-A-Game Area Program has been launched.

The Adopt-A-Game Area Program is an opportunity for the public – individuals, clubs, foundations, corporations, etc. – to help re-establish native grasslands on select State Game Areas throughout Southern Michigan. There have been 20 predetermined state game areas selected by the DNR.  In the Lansing area, Maple River SGA and Rose Lake SGA have both been selected.

According to the Coordinator for this program Ben Beaman, “Grasslands established through this program will improve water and air quality in Michigan and will support a vast array of wildlife species, including white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ring-necked pheasant, cottontail rabbit, grassland nesting songbirds, monarch butterflies, and other native pollinators. Additionally, because all habitat work will take place on lands open to public recreation, Michigan residents will benefit from improved opportunities for wildlife viewing, hunting, and other wildlife-based outdoor recreation.”

Disappearing grasslands are a threat to us all. You can help by becoming a sponsor today! Earn Gold (over $25,000), Silver (over $5,000) or Bronze (over $500) with your tax-deductible donation.

Sponsors will receive their names/logos on the following as recognition for their donations:

On the kiosk sign at the Game, Wildlife, or Recreation area that you sponsored

On the Pheasants Forever website and the Michigan Pheasants Forever Facebook page

On the MI DNR website

In the Pheasants Forever Magazine “Michigan Highlights” section

In an annual press release

In publicity material developed for your organization’s use

For more information on this program and to see a full map of all 20 sites you can visit http://www.michiganpheasantsforever.org/aagap/ or contact Ben directly at bbeaman@pheasantsforever.org

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