Together we created a new wildlife preserve near the dunes in Harbert, Michigan.
Announcing the Harbert Dunes Preserve!
From August 2020 to October 2021, a group of neighbors partnered with Chikaming Open Lands to protect some of the last untouched stretches of natural land in Harbert. Our mission was to rescue and protect the missing piece of the Preserves along Harbert Road to create a continuous 30-acre Conservation Corridor. The fundraising campaign was a resounding success, and a new preserve was created, complete with walking trails! Working together as a community, we have preserved the unique character of Harbert that distinguishes it along the shores of Lake Michigan.
The Missing Link
In August 2020, a 14-acre property was listed for sale. It was the missing link of the Harbert Dunes Preserves. It contains some of the last untouched, natural forest and wetland in Harbert. The success of the fundraising campaign allowed us to acquire this property with Chikaming Open Lands to permanently protect its natural state in October 2021. Its central location allows us to join three existing preserves and create a continuous 30-acre Conservation Corridor now called the Harbert Dunes Preserve.
Rescue Mission
The property was nestled within Harbert Road Woods — rich with seasonal wetlands, a ridge, and a mature forest. The previous owner of the property was interested in selling for development and cut down 9,000 square feet of woods in preparation for an access road. Thanks to our fast-acting community, Chikaming Open Lands was able to Rescue, Protect, and Restore this land so that it can function as the centerpiece of the corridor.
Actions Taken
Over 509 individuals made a tax-deductible donation !
Some people pledged their interest in making a tax-deductible gift.
Thousands of folks added their name to our petition of concern, raising awareness.
Hundreds of Harbor Country homes sported a vintage style yard sign to raise awareness!
Everyone did their part to spread the word.
Some folks sent a form email to their township official to ask for support.
What was at Stake?
This property supports a special ecosystem: diverse wildlife (including at least two endangered species), high-quality wetlands that filter and clean stormwater runoff before it enters Lake Michigan, and deep woods that function as a carbon sink. Its lush canopy provides shelter and is a flyway for migratory birds. It is a site of natural beauty that enhances our community’s health, aesthetics, and quality of life.
Importance of the Conservation Corridor
The Harbert Dunes Preserve (Conservation Corridor) is a network of forests and seasonal wetlands that hosts biodiverse wildlife. Environmental corridors depend on the interconnectedness of undeveloped, protected land. Without long-term protection, a corridor is at risk of fragmentation by roads or other development. Fragmenting the corridor threatens the ability of wildlife to travel, harms native plant and animal communities, and can damage the water quality of Lake Michigan.
“We have a fleeting opportunity to keep natural landscapes connected in order to protect the waters that sustain us, the forests that clean our air, and the habitat these lands provide for diverse wildlife.”
Our Plan Worked
Raised Awareness
Fundraised
Purchased
Preserved
Unique Character and Legacy of Conservation in Harbert
It is rare to find a stretch of undisturbed woodland so close to the lake — but in Harbert, this is by design. In 1978, a group of families saw the wild areas in Harbert dwindling. They knew if they did not take action the neighborhood they loved would change forever. They banded together with a vision to preserve the last untouched stretches of forest, and started a movement. In the past 40 years over 16 acres have been donated to Chikaming Open Lands.
The effort to protect natural land sits squarely within the conservation legacy of Harbert. In 1908 a diverse group of visionaries from Chicago founded the Prairie Club as a means to escape the city and restore themselves in nature. Founding members included Jens Jensen and Stephen Mather, who are respectively the renowned landscape architect and the first director of the National Park Service. In 1930, the Prairie Club chose Harbert as the location for Camp Hazelhurst where they lived out their environmental values. From 1926-1945 the poet Carl Sandberg lived in Harbert for these same reasons. Over the centuries, Harbert has attracted people who share a love of nature and commitment to the environment. Evidence of this can be seen in the pattern of low-impact development up and down Harbert Road where we have green, wooded areas instead of congested houses & hardscapes.
Let’s stay connected!
“In the woods, we return to reason and faith.”