{"id":11058,"date":"2022-07-11t16:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-11t16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dpetrov.2create.studio\/planet\/wordpress\/conservation-protection-economics-land-management-practices-butt-heads-in-michigan\/"},"modified":"2022-07-11t16:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-07-11t16:00:00","slug":"conservation-protection-economics-land-management-practices-butt-heads-in-michigan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.getitdoneaz.com\/story\/conservation-protection-economics-land-management-practices-butt-heads-in-michigan\/","title":{"rendered":"conservation, protection, economics: land management practices butt heads in michigan"},"content":{"rendered":"
by samantha anderer<\/strong><\/p>\n as nathan wright walks along the rocky shores of little traverse bay, it\u2019s clear that he belongs there. a member of the sault ste. marie tribe of chippewa indians, wright\u2019s ancestors have cultivated the landscape of what is now harbor springs, michigan for generations. his tranquility radiates outward among the trees and birds.<\/p>\n \u201cyou\u2019re developing a relationship with the land and mother earth, you\u2019re paying respect to it,\u201d wright says. \u201cyou\u2019re honoring the plant and you\u2019re also honoring yourself, because you become more connected.\u201d<\/p>\n wright is a tribal water protector and brought water protectors of many tribes together may 13-14 for the heart of the turtle gathering he helped organize in mackinaw city. the gathering combined traditional knowledge and modern methods of environmentalism to raise awareness for the climate crisis and call for an end to fossil fuels, according to the official event flyer.<\/p>\n water protectors are activists that focus specifically on keeping water systems clean and safe. for many indigenous communities, such as the sault ste. marie tribe of chippewa indians, water is also protected through rituals and offerings of tobacco. these practices extend to other natural life such as plants, though relationships with the land are also maintained through more hands-on approaches. while the method of care varies depending on the plant, certain types of pruning can help stimulate growth and longevity.<\/p>\n \u201cwe\u2019ve got a saying, as anishnawbek, that if you don\u2019t use it, it\u2019ll go away. the plant will leave,\u201d wright says. \u201cour activity of being out there helps generate that activity of the roots to make them want to grow.\u201d<\/p>\n for outdoors buffs and environmental stewards, slogans such as \u201cleave no trace\u201d fit perfectly with the principles national parks and nature preserves preach. considering the influence humans have had on the environment over the past century, the concept of leaving nature alone seems to make complete sense. yet the story is not that simple.<\/p>\n the idea of a pristine wilderness is a relatively recent concept, popularized as industrialization imposed distance between people and land. this viewpoint fails to consider the role that humans historically played as part of the natural ecosystem, particularly discounting the longstanding relationship between indigenous peoples and mother nature. mountains, rivers, plants and animals are featured prominently in native american stories as dynamic participants.<\/p>\n as an indigenous herbalist, wright explains that there is an obligation to the flora he works with.<\/p>\n large-scale government organizations have applied parts of this traditional land management approach. fire rangers at the hiawatha national forest ranger station near manistique, michigan take an active role in preserving the forest \u2014 which occupies 894,836 acres of michigan\u2019s upper peninsula \u2014 through controlled burnings. in addition to reducing the impact of future wildfires, the burns can get rid of invasive species, expel harmful insects and even release seeds for certain plants.<\/p>\n \u201cwhen we put fire to an area, it restores the habitat,\u201d zone fire management officer cory henry says. \u201cyes, there is potential harm and danger to fire. however, if we use and manage [it] and are able to utilize fire\u2019s benefits, we can actually have stronger, more resilient ecosystems.\u201d<\/p>\n native americans also used fire to maintain natural growth. burnings create ash that can serve as a nutrient-rich fertilizer and the heat can open up cones to release the seeds of certain plants.<\/p>\n although there are potential benefits to human interactions with the land, the pros and cons of certain practices render them subject to some debate. one such practice is clear-cutting, which involves the removal of all the trees from a certain area of land. while some oppose the practice because of its ability to disrupt an area\u2019s ecological integrity, henry says it is sometimes used in the hiawatha national forest and can be beneficial.<\/p>\n henry specifically cites the habitat advantages grouse enjoy from the removal of natural disturbances. he also notes that while nesting birds and some other animals may serve as collateral damage, the majority of animals are able to flee in time. even so, such a practice doesn\u2019t fully align with indigenous conventions. <\/p>\n \u201cwhen i hear forest management, clear-cutting and all that tree-cutting service, that\u2019s not forest management. forest management to me is reclaiming the seeds, checking all things, removing invasive species, making sure that the animals are protected,\u201d wright says.<\/p>\n land and water management debates puncture the broader political context of energy, oil and climate change. currently, one of the largest controversies in northern michigan and the upper peninsula surrounds the enbridge line 5 oil pipeline, which passes under the straits of mackinac where lakes michigan and huron connect.<\/p>\n the pipeline was constructed in 1953 to provide crude oil and natural gas for homes, cars and manufacturing. while the pipeline\u2019s age and reports from enbridge<\/a> about missing segments of protective coating have raised concern about potential leaks, the company maintains that the pipeline is secure.<\/p>\n \u201cthere\u2019s no lifespan with a big piece of infrastructure like this\u201d with proper maintenance, says enbridge corporate communications and media relations strategist ryan duffy. \u201clifespan is determined by scheduled inspection, how it works, all those things.\u201d<\/p>\n despite duffy\u2019s claims, enbridge doesn\u2019t have a clean track record regarding oil spills and leaks. according to greenpeace<\/a>, enbridge and its joint ventures and subsidiaries reported 307 hazardous liquid incidents to federal regulators between 2002 and 2018 involving the canadian company\u2019s pipeline systems that stretch across much of the u.s. and parts of canada.<\/p>\n the largest of these incidents occurred in 2010, when the 30-inch enbridge pipeline 6b rupture spilled an estimated 843,000 gallons of oil<\/a> into the kalamazoo river in southern michigan.<\/p>\n