Local Government Partners
Ann Arbor Township
Ann Arbor Township's Farmland and Open Space Preservation Program was approved by voters in November, 2003, with a 20-year, 0.7 mill property tax. The program seeks to identify and protect high quality agricultural lands. This is done through the purchase of development rights and partnerships with private and public agencies.
Scio Township
Scio Township's Land Preservation Program was funded by voters in November, 2004, with a ten-year, one-half mill property tax. The program seeks to identify and protect high quality natural and agricultural lands through the outright purchase of land, the purchase of development rights and partnerships with private and public agencies. The millage was renewed by Scio Township residents in November of 2013.
Washtenaw County Natural Areas Preservation Program (NAPP)
Washtenaw County’s Natural Areas Preservation Program (NAPP) purchases unique natural areas to ensure their preservation for the benefit of all County residents—plants, animals and people! The Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission manages the program.
The program goal is to identify lands which, through long-term preservation, will:
Protect and preserve the natural, ecological diversity/heritage of Washtenaw County
Complement the existing network of publicly and privately protected lands
Maximize the public benefit
NAPP was established in 2000 by the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners through the passage of Natural Areas Ordinance No. 128. The ordinance provides procedures and standards for purchase of natural areas by the County. It also called for the establishment of a citizens group to advise the Parks Commission. The Natural Areas Technical Advisory Committee (NATAC) is comprised of County residents. NATAC members have expertise in land trust/conservation, wildlife management, environmental education, real estate/development, land use planning, botany/forestry, and fisheries/aquatic ecology. The NAPP nature preserves are open to the public from dawn until dusk daily.
Webster Township
Webster Township's Farmland and Open Space Preservation Program was funded by voters in August, 2005, with a five-year, one-half mill property tax. The program seeks to identify and protect high quality natural and agricultural lands. This is done by the purchase of development rights and partnerships with private and public agencies. The millage was renewed by Webster Township residents in 2010.
Land Conservancy Partners
Legacy Land Conservancy
Formerly known as the Washtenaw Land Trust, the Legacy Land Conservancy was the first land trust established in Michigan. This is a private, non-governmental, non-profit organization dedicated to protecting natural areas and farms in Washtenaw, Jackson, and Ingham counties. Since 1971, the Land Conservancy has worked with local property owners to protect 51 properties totaling 2,776 acres through voluntary land conservation. Land protection options with the Land Conservancy include conservation agreements (also known as conservation easements), purchase of development rights (PDR), donation of land for nature preserves, and more. The Land Conservancy provides free consulting and assistance to property owners to help them find appropriate conservation solutions.
Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy
Founded in 1988, the Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy (SMLC) is a not-for-profit dedicated to the preservation and stewardship of natural land and open space in southeast Michigan. The Conservancy works to protect land by purchasing land, working with landowners to create conservation easement agreements, and by helping local government agencies with their land protection projects. We monitor, maintain, and care for the land we protect through our stewardship projects. We also work to educate the public about the importance of land conservation in southeast Michigan. Through this work we conserve habitat for wildlife and preserve places of scenic beauty for people to enjoy.
