Developing a Land Management Plan for Kalamazoo Nature Center's Eight Properties

Abstract

Our project team partnered with the Kalamazoo Nature Center (KNC) in Kalamazoo, MI, to develop a comprehensive land management plan (LMP) for the organization’s eight properties. We employed field-based methods, informal interviews, staff surveys, and feedback collected during staff meetings to gather data about KNC’s properties and management paradigms. This information was compiled into a series of background chapters about KNC’s management philosophy and common tools and strategies; individual site plans detailing the history, composition, and recommended management actions for each property; and appendices with invasive species management information and data collection details. In addition, we produced a how-to guide designed to help other organizations navigate the land management planning process. The comprehensive LMP, how-to guide, maps, and raw field data were delivered to KNC in April 2016.