Please add your name to our petition of concern.  Participation in strong numbers will demonstrate that our community cares about rescuing, protecting and connecting our natural lands. 

The Campaign to Save Harbert Road Woods

Call to Action:  We are a group of neighbors working with Chikaming Open Lands to protect and maintain the last untouched stretch of natural land in Harbert. Our mission is to rescue and protect the missing piece of the Harbert Road Preserves to create a continuous 28-acre Conservation Corridor. Join our movement as we carry on the 100-yr-old legacy of conservation in Harbert. Together we can preserve the unique character of Harbert that distinguishes it along the shores of Lake Michigan!

Background:  Chikaming Open Lands (COL) is seeking to acquire a 11-acre forest and wetland on Harbert Road west of Red Arrow Highway.   The property contains some of the last untouched, natural land in Harbert and is the missing link of the Harbert Road Preserves. The current owner is looking to sell the parcel for development and has already cut down over 9,000 square feet of trees to create an access road. Upon acquiring this property, COL will restore it and designate it as a nature preserve, permanently protecting its natural state.   

Conservation Value:  Key features that make this property special include:  1) Seasonal wetlands that purify water and control runoff before it enters nearby Lake Michigan.  2) A high quality, mature forest that is a habitat for diverse wildlife, including at least two endangered species, and an important flyway for migratory birds.  3) The property is centrally located and serves as a link that connects three of our existing preserves. This acquisition allows us to join these lands and create a valuable 28-acre conservation corridor.

Unique Character and 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.  They chose Harbert as their base. In the late 1970s, a group of families inspired by these early conservation luminaries banded together with a vision to protect Harbert's natural areas.  Over the past 100 years, Harbert has attracted people who share a love of nature and commitment to the environment. 

We need your support - together we can save this unique and irreplaceable ecosystem!