Leelanau Conservancy announces $75 million “Leelanau, Protected” campaign to preserve peninsula’s land and water

Conservancy announces campaign with $66 million already raised and only $9 million left to go

From staff reports

The Leelanau Conservancy today announced the public phase of its most ambitious campaign in the organization’s history—a $75 million effort to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife that define life in Leelanau County. With $9 million left to raise, the Conservancy invites the broader community to help complete this transformative initiative.

The campaign—titled Leelanau, Protected: A Campaign for Today and Tomorrow—focuses on three top priorities: protecting natural lands and working farmland; restoring ecological health and resilience across conserved habitats; and expanding meaningful access to nature for all people.

“This campaign is about land protection and the endless benefits that come with it,” said Tom Nelson, executive director of the Leelanau Conservancy. “It’s about the promise we make to this place and to each other. Our clean waters, our wildlife, our farms and forests, we are responsible for passing them on. The extraordinary generosity we’ve already seen from our community tells me that people understand what’s at stake and are ready to act. We’re asking everyone who loves Leelanau to be part of protecting its future.”

The campaign supports the Conservancy’s long-term vision of safeguarding clean waters, securing critical wildlife habitats, mitigating climate change through land conservation, and preserving the agricultural and scenic character that make Leelanau one of Michigan’s most cherished places.

Campaign Priorities include:

• Land Protection: Permanently protect natural lands and farmland across the peninsula.- Ecological Restoration: Actively manage conserved habitats for maximum health, biodiversity, and resilience.

• Access to Nature: Expand and enhance trails and outdoor experiences so everyone can connect with nature.

Through the generosity of the community, this campaign has already protected Sugar Loaf, expanded Kehl Lake Natural Area, reduced invasive species, and more. Current initiatives within the campaign include protecting Suttons Bay Forest, and farmland. The Leelanau Conservancy has protected more than 20,000 acres across the peninsula since its founding in 1988, working in partnership with landowners and supporters to conserve the lands that sustain both the natural environment and the regional economy.

For more information about the campaign or to make a gift, visit leelanauconservancy.org/leelanauprotected.