Northeast Michigan contains many miles of Lake Huron shoreline and a wide array of islands that support rare species and natural communities. The disruption of natural processes from pollution, development, climate change and invasive species has caused the extirpation and decline of many species in the region. While many of the Lake Huron islands have been spared the pressure of disturbance, they are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and invasive species. Through funding from the US Fish and Wildlife Coastal Program, Huron Pines is working closely with partners to monitor and restore habitat across eleven islands in Lake Huron. In this presentation, we will provide an overview of the on-the-ground efforts to collect and update island inventory data, manage invasive species, and monitor habitat for Great Lakes piping plover and other threatened and endangered species. Additionally, we will share our perspective on the unique partnerships and opportunities that were forged through this island conservation project.
