Beaver Island Wildlife/ Forest Management Plan (should it be called Natural Resources Management Plan

A Conservation Vision for Beaver Island Archipelago Ecoregion

The vision stated in the Island’s Masterplans adopted by Peaine Township and St. James Township in 2006 is supported by actions of the townships and their citizens: “It (the Island) will be a place:

· That reveres the natural environment and wishes to pass it along to future generations with little alteration.

· That is a quiet, serene hinterland where the evidence of settlement is not visible to the passerby.

· Where people have the choice to walk, ride bikes, or drive if they choose.

· Where buildings and manmade things seem to be part of and integral to the natural landscape rather than superseding it.”

The Natural Resources Ecotourism Commission was established in August of 2009 to support the Masterplans’ vision by “understanding and preserving Beaver Island’s natural resources and promoting opportunities for their appreciation and enjoyment.” It charged itself with “defining strategies for long-term sustainable management” by developing a comprehensive adaptive management plan. Such a plan would “promote conservation of biodiversity, protect from invasive species, and promote ecotourism through sustainable use of the Island’s natural resources.

NRETC Mission Statement: To understand and preserve our natural resources and promote opportunities for their appreciation and enjoyment.

Purpose of the plan (see Appendix A): Promote conservation of biodiversity, protect from invasive species, and promote ecotourism through sustainable use of the Island’s natural resources.

The NRETC approach to ecotourism is guided by Michigan’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (excerpt from 324.35505 of Act 451 of 1994) requiring reports to include:

(a) Enhancement of scientific knowledge through improved and more complete biological surveys, and research designed to identify factors limiting population viability or persistence.

(b) Identification of habitats and species of special concern and methods to protect them.

(c) Improvement of management techniques based on scientific knowledge of the conservation of biological diversity.

(d) Effective restoration methods for ecosystems or species of concern.

(e) Broad-based education efforts regarding the importance of biological diversity and the need for conservation.

(f) Use of areas demonstrating management techniques that conserve or restore native biological diversity…

In discussions that followed, it became clear that several principles should guide the plan’s creation.

1. Base all decisions upon science.

2. Manage populations of flora and fauna so the interdependencies that exist in the various communities are maintained.

3. Provide and promote safe and enjoyable hunting and other wildlife-related activities.

4. Conserve and encourage biodiversity while protecting endangered species.

5. Protect, improve, and restore native habitat for natural communities.

6. Provide guidance to resolve human-wildlife conflicts.

7. Educate all Island residents and visitors about the value of all wildlife and habitat.

8. Develop partnerships to create and implement programs.

9. Perform all activities in a professional manner.

10. Incorporate public opinion into our decision-making process.

11. Preserve, use, and manage habitat and all wildlife as a public trust resource.

To support its adaptive management[1] approach the NRETC has defined and will manage a portfolio[2] of programs which in turn contain multiple projects to preserve natural resources and promote ecotourism. The five programs (which included 20 projects defined later) are:

1. Inventory and Conserve Habitat

2. Manage Animal Species

3. Protect Problem (endangered and invasive) Plant Species:

4. Promote Tourism: Hunting, Fishing, Wildlife Viewing, Natural Resources

5. Seek funding and recognition

Critical to judging whether the projects and actions being performed by the NRETC are improving the Island’s natural assets and economy is monitoring and reporting on programs with respect to Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Currently identified KPIs and goals which are subject to change pending expert critique and townships approval are:

1. Number of visitor days per season; average dollars per day spent

2. Dollars of funding from academic and government sources

3. Dollar value of real estate sales (including vacant properties); ratio of value to 2007

4. Dollar value of commercial and residential buildings built or remodeled

5. % Knowledge of natural habitat inventories / 100% of archipelago

6. Acres of Invasive Species / less than 2 acres of our Great Lakes coastal wetlands

7. % of archipelago assessed for threats to biodiversity, habitat and species and mitigated / 100%[3]

8. % acreage of submerged vegetation for fish spawning documented / 100% of island waterways

9. % of wetlands and shoreline documented for pollution and species at risk and mitigated / 100%

10. Level of Pollution and species at risk (level 1 to 6; best = 1, high =5; not known = 6) / level 1

11. Level of connectivity and size of habitats to maintain biodiversity / level1

Several key threats to the biological diversity of the Island were identified: water flow manipulation, landscape fragmentation, invasive exotic species, pollution of all kinds, forestry, and a moderate conservation ethic in the human population overall. The wetland natural communities of the region have been reduced in many cases to small, isolated fragments that harbor exotic species and have lost some of their integrity. The lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams that define this ecoregion are compromised by pollution. Deer, raccoons, and groundhogs have been introduced to the ecosystem. Conservation of this region’s biological diversity will be a challenge. Abating these threats will require creative approaches and hard work. Restoration of ecological systems, forests and their component species will be vital to success in conserving forest, wetlands, and aquatic features.

Influencing public local, state and federal policy in the areas of water management, forestry, and deer management will be crucial. Deep and committed partnerships in all these endeavors will be more important than ever if we wish to be successful in achieving the goals of this plan.

We envision a Beaver Island in which our native wildlife populations and habitats are robust, self sustaining, and in an appreciably better condition tomorrow than they are today. All Islanders understand the relationship and value of wildlife and habitat to our health, social and economic well being. Citizens, non-government organizations, and government agencies partner to conserve forests, habitats, endangered species, and native wildlife populations, and promote responsible recreation.

Overview of Great Lakes Island Biodiversity and Threats (see appendix D)

The Nature Conservancy’s biodiversity project produced a comprehensive spatial database and the associated biodiversity values, threats, and conservation status of Great Lakes islands. With over 32,000 islands, the largest collection of freshwater islands in the world, these special places are globally unique and rich in biodiversity. By their very nature, islands are isolated and sensitive to change. An ecologically-based analysis was then completed to identify the islands and island complexes within the Great Lakes that are the highest priority for conservation action.

The Nature Conservancy assigned each island or islands complex a total biodiversity using scoring criteria that considered species (20%), plant communities (11%), ecological systems (33% — number of different types), ecosystem functions (17% — variety of plants and animals supported), physical diversity (17% — shape, geological and shoreline), size of the island or island complex (6%), and distinctiveness (5% — uniqueness to the area).

Threats Analysis: included presence of and proximity to pits and quarries, distance to mining claims, road densities, building densities, the percent land converted to cropland, high-use recreational beach areas, recreational dive sites, lighthouses, anchorage sites, boat launches, access site for land vehicles, residential/recreational or cottage use areas, camp/recreation sites, tourism establishment areas, cottage residential areas, cottage residential sites, building density, and aquatic invasive species.

Biodiversity[4] Assessment: Many islands have high biological diversity, including sites for colonial nesting water birds, as well as providing important ecosystem functions such as suitable habitat, occurrence of fish and rare species. The highest-scoring islands for biodiversity in Lake Michigan include Washington, Beaver, Garden, and Hog Islands.

Threats to Biodiversity: Approximately five percent of the islands in Lake Michigan have limited residential and recreational development. Beaver Island and Washington Island are the most threatened islands in the basin as they have considerable residential and recreational development.

Conservation[5] Assessment: Beaver Island, the highest scoring Lake Michigan biodiversity island, has approximately one-third of its area protected as nature preserves or conservation easements, as well as wildlife areas and forest management areas. Most of that one-third consists of state-owned land, and only a small fraction is nature preserves and conservation easements. Management options on state land are very different than those on preserves and conservation easements. Beaver Island has the highest number of documented threats for Lake Michigan. Included within the Beaver Island group managed for conservation, Garden Island and Hog Island are also high-scoring biodiversity islands but with very limited threats.

Excellent examples of dune ecosystems occur on Great Lakes islands including Beaver, High, and Garden Islands in Lake Michigan. Humans use dunes and their beaches as areas for recreation. The more accessible beaches become popular holiday destinations and can be crowded with sunbathers, vehicles, and cottages. Great Lakes dunes are globally unique ecosystems that provide habitat for many rare plants and animals and are now the focus of significant conservation efforts. Dune ecosystems are adapted to constant natural disturbances but are vulnerable to humans use.

Overview of Island Biodiversity (see Appendix C)

At its eighth meeting (Brazil, March 2006), the Conference on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted the first program of work dedicated solely to uniqueness and fragility of island biodiversity. Its aim is to reduce significantly the rate of island biodiversity loss. The program of work sets out 50 island-specific priority actions arranged under 11 goals, which are organized under seven focal areas:

1. Protect the components of biodiversity

2. Promote sustainable use

3. Address threats to biodiversity

4. Maintain goods and services from biodiversity to support human well-being

5. Protect traditional knowledge and practices

6. Ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of genetic resources

7. Ensure provision of adequate resources

Islands boast a biodiverse assemblage of life. Species become island dwellers; over time, this isolation exerts unique evolutionary forces that result in the development of a distinct genetic reservoir and the emergence of highly specialized species with new characteristics and the occurrence of unusual adaptations. Genetic diversity and population sizes tend to be limited, and species often become concentrated in small confined areas. Islands make a contribution to global biodiversity that is out of proportion to their land area.

MNFI’s Beaver Island Biodiversity paper

“Mesic northern forests in presettlement Michigan consisted of vast, contiguous tracts with both complex species composition and forest canopy structure. Natural disturbances were rare and usually of relatively small-scale. Thus, old trees dominated forests with scattered younger individuals growing into forest canopy gaps caused by windthrow or the death of individual trees. Conifers such as hemlock and white pine occurred in groups or as scattered individuals throughout these forests. Further, there was a diversity of dead trees, both down and standing, of various size classes and in various stages of decomposition. The result was a very complex system with a large diversity of habitats and microhabitats. Much of today’s mesic northern forest occurs in small fragmented blocks and lacks the structural complexity of presettlement forests. Since most of Michigan’s forests established following slash fires of the logging era, they tend to be relatively young and even-aged. Additionally, the conifer component, especially hemlock, is conspicuously absent from much of its former range in today’s northern hardwood forest systems. Thus, although mesic northern forest is a common natural community, it is quite rare when found in a structurally intact, high quality condition. The high quality examples of mesic northern forest discovered in this study, particularly on Beaver Island, are of significant conservation importance to Michigan.”

The Beaver Island archipelago has species that are globally rare and species[6] endemic to Great Lakes instances of unusual biogeography variations, as noted in our skunk cabbage, Garter snakes, toads, and painted turtles. While islands are not noted for their large number of species, the Beaver Island archipelago is listed on the NC Biodiversity Ranking Report as being one of the higher ranking islands of the Great Lakes.

Explanation of Expectations for this Plan and Supporting Activities

Our plan will use the CBD as guideline as it continues to be expanded and revised in anticipation of acquiring local, state, federal, and academic funding. Not part of ecotourism, but critical to the completion of various action plans, will be proposing Beaver Island to the academic community as the perfect place to model and study ecosystems and habitat. Biodiversity and adaptive management are key to our purpose and action plans.

Biodiversity – Loss of island biodiversity means loss of endangered species and loss of habitat for migratory birds and song birds, and makes the island more susceptible to invasive species. Beaver Island’s economy is dependent on tourism, residential construction and academic studies. Construction, tourism, logging, and deer browsing threaten the island’s pristine areas and its diverse ecosystem, which are the primary reasons people (and academics) are attracted to the island. Requirements for living a comfortable, serene island life can be odds with maintaining the pristine nature of island habitats and endangered species. But without an island infrastructure and industry, residents would have to be self-sufficient for food, supplies, repairs, energy, and transportation. The challenge is that many activities that sustain the island’s economy damage habitat. However, human habitation on the island and biodiversity need not be mutually exclusive. In fact, human management can help to enhance and protect biodiversity if properly approached. One of the goals of the plan is to suggest modifications or alternatives to damaging practices that will not be so damaging. A non threatening opportunity for generating revenue and a positive ecosystems image for the island are academics who have money to spend on studying pristine environments and species that are endangered by our human activity; e.g. Beaver Island can be a center or model for ecosystems studies for islands in the Great Lakes. This plan proposes activities that are intended to balance economic benefit with diverse ecosystem preservation, maintenance, and use (see appendix D).

Threats to Forests (see Appendix M). Threats to forests from pollution can result from commercial logging, private property owners and also air born pollutants from around the world. Moreover, diseases, like the beech-bark disease, Dutch elm disease, maple tar spot, Hypoxylon canker and others are also a potential threat to the forests of Beaver Island. Other threats include larger pests like the emerald ash borer and the gypsy moth caterpillar etc. Some plants can also be considered pests since they will out compete or reduce the abundance of native plants. Managing forests from a single point of view, like feeding deer rather than considering forests’ biological and structural diversity can be potentially very destructive. Another threat to forests is in how we perceive them. Calling a beech maple forest that is 80-100 years old mature is certainly a misconception. Sugar maples commonly live over 3 centuries and beech can live over 4 centuries. Another threat is the over use/harvest of forests. Increase harvesting results in many young trees in a forest. Trees that are young delete many nutrients from the soil; heavy and frequent cuttings will put a strain on the forest soils.

It is imperative that we monitor our forests for diseases and pests and prevent new one’s from occurring where ever possible. Certain areas of state land need to be considered a core area that is left unmanaged. This will allow trees to fully mature and will provide benefits to many organisms on the Island, both game and non game alike.

Adaptive Management Plan. Ecosystems are dynamic and complex, and cause-effect relationships are rarely simple to understand. Adaptive management is the science-based application of specific management activities to address resource management issues. This form of management requires a statement of actions to be taken and proposed outcomes. Outcomes are then monitored and yearly management activities will be modified or continued based upon the predicted and actual outcomes. Any scheme for managing the island’s ecosystem must consider the impact of humans, animals (deer and beaver), and invasive species on the resilience (ability to recover from damage) of island habitats (see appendix E).

Scope of the Plan. The Beaver Island Archipelago has been extensively studied, but some studies may be outdated and some additional study (and inventories) may be necessary. All existing studies shall be accumulated and evaluated in the formation of specific actions in support of this strategic plan. Action plans for preserving, using, managing, and restoring specific areas and their specific issues have been developed, but more is required. While the focus of the plan is Beaver Island, the plan includes all areas and issues relating to natural resources of the archipelago because the Island is affected by activity on the other islands and the conservation of the other islands’ natural resources is equally important. The scope of the plan includes:

· Land form features

· Water features

· Vegetation

· Wildlife

· Endangered species

· Sustainable construction practices

· Sustainable eco-tourism practices

· Human interaction and governance

Information will be obtained from Environmental Assessment — taken from MNFI, NC Biological Ranking, Islands Framework reports, PICAs, Inventories, DNR, Historical, or University Data. Action plans must be developed.

Action plans must contain or have been developed for the following:

· Adaptive management of habitat for animals: deer, coyotes, rodents (beaver, snowshoe hare)

· Identification and monitoring of predator/prey relationships

· Adaptive management of habitat for birds: Cormorants, Loons, Eagles, Piping Plovers…

· Monitoring and stocking of fisheries: interior lakes, creeks and streams, and GL fisheries/near shore habitat

· Forest Management: wild forests, old growth, viable forestry practices, disease, fire control, wildlife food plots

· Identification and eradication of invasive Species: Phragmites, Japanese Knotweed, European Swamp Thistle, Spotted Knapweed, garlic mustard, and new species

· Management and Restoration of plant habitat

· Management of habitat for colonial/migratory birds

· Preservation of wetlands: coastal, fens, bogs, and marshes

· Identification and protection of endangered species

· Coastal and creek management and restoration for brook trout passage

· Identification of high quality conservation areas on the archipelago and development of Ecological Reference Areas.

Programs, Projects and Action Plans Overview

A partial set of program and Project charters follow. In order to communicate the breadth and depth of activities being considered by the NRETC, a portfolio management strategy is here suggested. The table below shows the relationship and differences between portfolios, programs and projects. The portfolio is continuously evaluated in Tollgate reviews in terms of key performance indicators to determine the success and set priorities for its various programs and projects.

	Projects	Programs	Portfolios
Scope	Projects have defined objectives. Scope is progressively elaborated throughout the project cycle.	Programs have a larger scope and provide more significant benefits.	Portfolios have a business scope that changes with the strategic goals of the organization.
Change	Project managers expect change and implement processes to keep change managed and controlled.	Program managers must expect change from both in and outside the program and manage it.	Portfolio managers continually monitor changes in the broad environment.
Planning	Project managers progressively elaborate high-level information into detailed plans throughout the project life cycle.	Program mangers develop the overall program plan and create high level plans to guide detailed planning at the component level.	Portfolio managers create and maintain necessary processes and communicate relative to the aggregate portfolio.
Management	Project managers manage the project team to meet the project objectives.	Program managers manage the program staff and the project managers; they provide the vision and over-all leadership.	Portfolio managers may manage or coordinate portfolio management staff.
Success	Success is measured by product and project quality, timelines, budget compliance, and degree of customer satisfaction.	Success is measured by the degree to which the program satisfies the needs and benefits for which it was under taken.	Success is measured in terms of the aggregate performance of portfolio components.
Monitoring	Project Managers monitor and control the work producing the products, services, or results that project was undertaken to produce.	Program mangers monitor the progress of program components to ensure the overall goals, schedules, budget, and benefits of the program will be met.	Portfolio managers monitor the aggregate performance and KPIs.

Project and Portfolios are continuously monitored and measured against the KPIs defined within the portfolio. Each program has a different subset of KPIs with which to assess the performance of the projects within the portfolio. This evaluation is performed in a Tollgate Review where subject experts as to the programs performance make judgments.

Programs: Activities associated with Programs are ongoing and are intended to build an ecological and tourism knowledge and continuously review the operations and resultant artifacts of projects within that program

Environmental Impact: Identification of key areas for restoration in the Beaver Island Archipelago Beaver Island’s economy is heavily dependent on eco-tourism. Understanding what residents and tourists value is critical part of identifying what to preserve. With these values in mind, the commission then can inventory natural resource and habitat assets and define projects for their restoration.

Threats by Program:

Program 1: Lack of inventories and information to assist with appropriate planning.

Program 2: Proliferation of game species. Loss of bird and migratory habitat.

Program 3: Loss of endangered species. Proliferation of invasive species.

Program 4: Not enough tourists. Destructive human interaction with natural resource.

Program 5: Inadequate private, local, state and academic planning, resources and funding on private.

Set of Key Performance Indicators

Critical to judging whether the projects and actions being performed by the NRETC are improving the Island’s natural assets and economy is monitoring and reporting on programs with respect to Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Subject to change pending expert critique and townships approval, currently identified sample KPIs are:

1. Number and dollar value of homes and properties sold

2. Number and dollar value of buildings constructed and renovated per year

3. Number of visitor weeks per year.

4. Number of local families

5. Income per local family

6. Dollars of funding from academic and government sources

7. Number of Recreational Environments/Activities.

8. Level of quality and number of Beaver Island’s “Pristine” environmental areas

9. % Knowledge of natural habitat inventories / 100% of archipelago

10. Acres of Invasive Species / less than 2 acres of our Great Lakes coastal wetlands

11. % of archipelago assessed for threats to biodiversity, habitat and species and mitigated / 100%[7]

12. % acreage of submerged vegetation for fish spawning documented / 100% of island waterways

13. % of wetlands and shoreline documented for pollution and species at risk and mitigated / 100%

14. Level of Pollution and species at risk (level 1 to 6; best = 1, high =5; not known = 6) / level 1

15. Level of connectivity and size of habitats to maintain biodiversity / level1

16. Buck to Doe rations

17. Estimated deer per square mile

18. Estimate of deer browse damage to habitat

19. Estimated numbers of game species (increasing or decreasing)

20. Number and types of bird habitats (increasing or decreasing)

21. Estimated number of coyotes (increasing or decreasing)

22. Areas and acres of invasive Species (less than 2 acres)

23. Areas and acres of endangered species

24. Level of risk to endangered species (level 1 to 6; best = 1, high =5; not known = 6)

25. Level of risk to habitat from invasive species

Portfolio, Program and Project Reviews

There are two primary developments that resulted from the planning process;

1) A set of programs for Eco-tourism, Tollgate Reviews and Project Management. These can be used to implement and guide work on Beaver Island in the context of Portfolio Management

2) A table of outputs from these generalized processes that define specific document titles, and data capture descriptions as well as a summary of the associated template structures

NRETC Programs

Tollgate/Portfolio Review Procedures

Project Management

Inventory and Conserve Habitat

Manage Animal Species (QDM)

Inventory and Manage Problem Plant Species

Promote Tourism

Seek Recognition and Funding

Assess Work result

Assess Work Process

Determine Alignment with Goals

Prioritise Projects and Balance Portfolio

Decide: Stop, Hold, Proceed

Approve, Record, Deploy

Propose

Initiate

Plan

Execute

Control

Close

Monitoring and evaluation of progress is dependent on tollgate reviews by ‘qualified’ experienced reviewers specific at least one Key Performance Indicator. Failure to use the right person in a critical review can result in a poor assessment of the portfolio’s progress. Clearly defining the experience of reviewers and making sure the selected person for a role or task is qualified will have a major impact on the results of the proposed projects.

Program 1		Inventory and Conserve Habitat			Client	Beaver Island
Purpose		Define the current state and conservation challenges of Beaver Island Habitats
Background: Conference On Biological Diversity Focal Area 1
Goal 1: PROTECT THE COMPONENTS OF BIODIVERSITY / Promote the conservation of the biological diversity of island ecosystems, habitats and biomes. · Target 1.1: All of the island pristine habits effectively conserved. · Target 1.2: Areas of particular importance to island biodiversity are protected consistent with national guidelines. GOAL 5: Pressures habitat loss, land-use change and degradation, and sustainable water use, reduced on islands · Target 5.1: Rate of loss and degradation of natural habitats in islands significantly decreased GOAL 7: Address challenges to island biodiversity from pollution · Target 7.2: Pollution and its impacts on island biological diversity significantly reduced
Opportunity or Problem Statement				Many of Beaver Island’s natural resources have been damaged as a result of weather, logging and recreational activities. It will first be necessary to identify areas that have habitat damage and litter and then initiate a project to restore it to natural habitat.
Program Goal				This program will continuously evaluate, restore, preserve and manage forests and other habitats to insure that islanders continue to reap the economic benefits of eco-tourism.
Program Scope				This program will focus on all islands of the archipelago.
Out of Program Scope				This project will not consider areas that not distressed.
Ongoing Program Actions
· Fill in the gaps from inventory for restoration and areas and the MNFI database. · Identify the most important conservation challenges based on KPIs. · Identify indigenous plants common to the archipelago. · Review lessons learned from other Great Lakes islands regarding conservation. · Review all proposals for the impact on environment and plant species.
KPI	Program Scorecard Description						Weight
1	Number of Beaver Island’s potential “pristine” environmental areas identified						25 %
2	% Knowledge of natural habitat inventories / 100% of archipelago						25 %
3	Acres of Invasive Species / less than 2 acres of our Great Lakes coastal wetlands						10%
4	% acreage of submerged vegetation for fish spawning documented / 100% of island waterways						10%
5	% of wetlands and shoreline documented for pollution and species at risk and mitigated / 100%						10%
6	Level of Pollution and species at risk (level 1 to 6; best = 1, high =5; not known = 6) / level 1						10%
7	Level of connectivity and size of habitats to maintain biodiversity / level 1						10%
Threats and Risk: Lack of inventories and information to assist with appropriate planning.
Too much time will be spent ‘discovering’ and prioritizing distressed areas, resulting in significant delays in cleanup. Not enough time will be spent ‘discovering’ distressed areas, so that the worst areas are not identified.
Team
References
Sub Projects			Inland Lakes / Wetlands Shoreline / Forests / Recreation Areas

Project	Protect Island Inland Lakes and Streams	Client	Beaver Island
Purpose	Preserve and protect our inland lakes for sustainability, wildlife, fishing, and recreational enjoyment.
Objectives
Project Activities
· Educate the public regarding catch-and-release rules. · Publish and enforce HP limits on Barney’s Lake, Font Lake, Fox Lake , and Lake Geneserath . · Educate the public regarding loon nesting and habitat. · Control invasive plant species and invasive marine species (e.g. wash boats). · Monitor the water quality of the lakes.

Project	Protect Island Wetlands	Client	Beaver Island
Purpose	Preserve and protect Lake Michigan and its shoreline and dunes. (Number one concern at all roundtable discussion and all survey responses.)
Objectives
Project Activities
· Survey Island wetlands to determine type and population of amphibians, plants, and birds. · Monitor for invasive species. Manage adjacent habitats. · Educate the public regarding the importance of wetlands to migratory birds. · Develop specific protection regulations to limit human invasion. · Expand the Ecological Evaluation of Publicly Accessible Wetlands of Interest on Beaver Island (Beth and Edwin Leuck,June 2006) to include more detailed information regarding specific plants and animals found in wetlands. · Continue to identify fen areas around the archipelago. · Review, modify if needed, and adopt the model wetlands ordinance proposed by the Huron River Watershed Council or a similar protective ordinance.

Project	Protect Lake Michigan Shoreline	Client	Beaver Island
Purpose	Preserve and protect Lake Michigan and its shoreline and dunes. (Number one concern at all roundtable discussion and all survey responses.)
Objectives
Project Activities
· Support state and national efforts to protect Lake Michigan from invasive aquatic species. · Enforce dune regulations. Signage! · Educate the public regarding dune management. *and sensitivity of dunes, endangered and threatened plants · Work with the Beaver Island Schools to develop an educational program to enhance students understanding of island ecosystems and ways to preserve them. · Identify areas of concern and develop a plan for each; educate landowners and general public.

Project	Protect Recreation Areas	Client	Beaver Island
Purpose	Protect areas identified in the Beaver Island Recreation resource project (e.g., acquisition and protection of dwarf lake iris at French Bay)
Objectives
Project Activities
· Work with the DNR for access to Luney’s Point. · Identify new areas in need of protection. · Work with the Nature Conservancy for conservation easements for protection of sensitive areas or areas of high value for conservation

Project		Preserve and Manage Forests	Client	Beaver Island
Purpose		Forests: Manage our forests for wildlife, public enjoyment, and sustainability.
Objectives		Inventory all critical forest areas by 2012; have a specific plan for each area by 2013
Project Activities
· Identify and create core areas and recommended acreage of significance on state land where the current state of wilderness and forests would be left untouched. (e.g. north side of Lake Geneserath , SW Corner of Island , 96 acres of rare dry mesic forest at Point La Par, areas north of Johnny Martin’s trail). · Define habitat preservation rules for forest land to be logged, including inventories of birds in logging area. · Develop best practices to forest management for private property owners who may wish to employ logging on their property. Encourage winter logging as another control method for decreasing the spread of invasive species. · Develop a program for rapid response and identification of invasive species caused by logging disturbances. Induce DNRE to provide for logging contracts that will require bidder to wash all equipment prior to sending to the Beaver archipelago; the DNRE to provide monitoring of area for two years following logging activity to aid in early identification of invasive species. · Quarantine Island archipelago: Engage MDA to place a quarantine on the Beaver Island archipelago for the import of unfinished wood products or firewood for the prevention of the Emerald Ash Borer and other threats. · Monitor Beech Bark Disease and work with the DNRE on the effect of the disease on forestry plans for logging · Review yearly DNRE Featured Species list. Identify, monitor and maintain sections of forests for critical habitat protection of listed bird species.
Background: Threats to Forests
Threats to forests from pollution can result from commercial logging, private property owners and also air born pollutants from around the world. Moreover, diseases, like the beech-bark disease, Dutch elm disease, maple tar spot, Hypoxylon canker and others are also a potential threat to the forests of Beaver Island. Other threats include larger pests like the emerald ash borer and the gypsy moth caterpillar etc. Some plants can also be considered pests since they will out compete or reduce the abundance of native plants. Managing forests from a single point of view, like feeding deer rather than considering forests’ biological and structural diversity can be potentially very destructive. Another threat to forests is in how we perceive them. Calling a beech maple forest that is 80-100 years old mature is certainly a misconception. Sugar maples commonly live over 3 centuries and beech can live over 4 centuries. Another threat is the over use/harvest of forests. Increase harvesting results in many young trees in a forest. Trees that are young delete many nutrients from the soil; heavy and frequent cuttings will put a strain on the forest soils. It is imperative that we monitor our forests for diseases and pests and prevent new one’s from occurring where ever possible. Certain areas of state land need to be considered a core area that is left unmanaged. This will allow trees to fully mature and will provide benefits to many organisms on the Island, both game and non-game alike.
WBS	Project Plan Milestones				Time
Define	· Obtain a Forest Assessment of Archipelago · Identify and Prioritize trends and issues: such as disease, insects, protection of old growth sites, sustainable forestry practices, fire control, wetland protection, invasive species vectors and control, economic trends and habitat initiatives.
Measure	·
Analyze	· Analysis of gaps in current policies and resources by the state and local governments. · Develop options to address each trend and issue · Develop objectives and actions to address each issue
Improve	· Develop a Community Forest Conservation Action Initiative to educate island owners of sustainable forestry practices, habitat enhancement or restoration, and the importance of coastal shoreline habitat for migratory birds.
Control	· Provide demonstration projects to protect restore and improve the archipelago’s forests. · Yearly review and revise policies and actions as indicated.
Team
References
Sub projects

Program 2		Manage Animal Species (QDM)			Client	Beaver Island
Purpose		Maintain viable populations of all species including game species for hunting
Background: Conference On Biological Diversity Focal Area 1
Goal 2: PROTECT THE COMPONENTS OF BIODIVERSITY / Promote the conservation of island species diversity Target 2.1: Populations of island species of selected taxonomic groups restored, maintained, or their decline reduced Target 2.2: Status of threatened island species improved
Opportunity or Problem Statement				Many of Beaver Island’s natural resources have been damaged as a result of weather, logging and recreational activities. It will first be necessary to identify areas that have habitat damage and litter and then initiate a project to restore it to natural habitat.
Program Goal				This program will continuously evaluate and attempt to maintain viable populations of all identified wildlife to reap the economic benefits of eco-tourism.
Program Scope				This program will focus on all islands of the archipelago.
Out of Program Scope				This project will only consider mammals, birds and fish.
Ongoing Program Actions
· Inventory all animal species with the archipelago. · Identify the most important preservation and management challenges based on KPIs. · Review lessons learned from other Great Lakes islands regarding QDM and animal species preservation. · Monitor game species populations (deer, ruffed grouse, turkey, woodcock, hare, and beaver). · Assess predator (coyotes and people) and game and non-game species relationships and consequences.
KPI	Program Scorecard Description						Weight
1	Number of Beaver Island’s potential animal species identified						10 %
2	Buck to Doe rations						10 %
3	Estimated deer per square mile						10%
4	Estimate of deer browse damage to habitat						20%
5	Estimated numbers of game species (increasing or decreasing)						10%
6	Number and types of bird habitats (increasing or decreasing)						10%
7	Estimated number of coyotes (increasing or decreasing)						10%
8	Effect of hunting, management (including QDM) and other regulatory programs on species.						20%
Threats and Risk: Proliferation of game species.
Too much time will be spent managing for game species and not enough time will be spent understanding the impact on other animal species including habitat. Independent monitoring and subsequent herd control will not be done.
Team
References
Sub Projects			Non-game species / Bird Habitat / Deer Management / Other game species

Project	Protect Non-game Species	Client	Beaver Island
Purpose	Maintain habitat to insure preservation of non-game species.
Objectives
Project Activities
· Identify non-game species and their habitat needs and develop a plan to insure they are met.

Project	Cultivate Bird Habitat	Client	Beaver Island
Purpose	Cultivate bird habitat
Objectives
· Identify habitat and size areas and birds. · Review yearly DNRE Featured Species Plan.

Project	QDM plus	Client	Beaver Island
Purpose	Support the QDM plan for Beaver Island deer management practices that balance habitat for a sustainable, healthy herd
Objectives
Project Activities
· Determine the optimum number of deer for the Island . Develop methods other than drive-by surveys and trail cams to identify the number of deer, which have proved unreliable. Support the DNRE’s proposal to do habitat evaluations to review damage done by deer browse to determine whether the deer herd is too large on private and state lands. Determine optimal turkey numbers and bring flock into check. · Develop hunter education programs and voluntary regulations. · Monitor the numbers through voluntary deer checks (add incentives to promote checks), drive-by censuses, and obtaining figures annually from transport providers. (Note: each of these can be expanded in the Plan to provide and justify specific numbers and explain how and why each action is accomplished.) · Insure that the townships obtain the independent analysis of a qualified wildlife biologist to evaluate the Quality Deer Management Plan adopted by the townships.

Project	Manage other game species	Client	Beaver Island
Purpose	Develop management guidelines for ruffed grouse, turkey, woodcock, hare and beaver.
Objectives
· Invite biologists and hunters to present non-deer game species information about which they are familiar to NRETC

Project	Cultivate marine habitat for fisheries.	Client	Beaver Island
Purpose
Objectives
Project Activities
·

Program 3		Inventory and Manage Problem Plant Species			Client	Beaver Island
Purpose		Identify and protect endangered species and eliminate invasive species.
Background: Conference On Biological Diversity
Goal 2: Promote the conservation of island species diversity. · Target 2.1: Populations of island species of selected taxonomic groups restored, maintained, or their decline reduced. · Target 2.2: Status of threatened island species improved. Goal 6: Control threats to island biological diversity from invasive alien species · Target 6.1: Pathways for major potential alien invasive species are identified and controlled on islands · Target 6.2: Management plans implemented for major alien species that threaten ecosystems, habitats or species
Opportunity or Problem Statement				Many of Beaver Island’s natural resources have been damaged as a result of weather, logging and recreational activities. It will first be necessary to identify plant endangered species to be protected and invasive species to eliminated and then initiate a project to restore it to natural habitat.
Program Goal				This program will continuously evaluate, preserve and eliminate specific plant species to insure that islanders continue to reap the economic benefits of eco-tourism and funding.
Program Scope				This program will focus on all islands of the archipelago.
Out of Program Scope				This project will not consider plants that are indigenous and not endangered.
Ongoing Program Actions
· Identify GPS coordinates of endangered and invasive plant species in the archipelago. · Identify the most important conservation challenges based on KPIs. · Develop protection programs for endangered species. · Develop eradication and prevention programs for invasive species. · Review all proposals for the impact on environment and plant species.
KPI	Program Scorecard Description						Weight
1	Number of Beaver Island’s problem plant species identified						20 %
2	Number of programs in place to manage identified species.						20 %
3	Areas and acres of invasive Species (less than 2 acres)						15%
4	Areas and acres of endangered species						15%
5	Level of risk to endangered species (level 1 to 6; best = 1, high =5; not known = 6)						15%
6	Level of risk to habitat from invasive species .						15%
Threats and Risk: Loss of endangered species; proliferation of invasive species.
Plant problems will not be identified and mitigated resulting in loss biodiversity from endangered species loss and significant damage to habitat from unchecked invasive species proliferation.
Team
References
Sub Projects			Endangered / Invasive / Education / LEED

Project	Protect Endangered Plant Species	Client	Beaver Island
Purpose	Identify endangered species we know and develop a protection strategy
Objectives
Project Activities
· Identify areas of endangered plant species. · Use signage to identify areas of endangered species.

Project	Control Invasive Species	Client	Beaver Island
Purpose	Create an invasive species SWAT team to identify, monitor, and create rapid response. (More detail on education methods and SWAT teams is needed.)
Objectives
Project Activities
· Continue efforts on already identified species, phragmites, Japanese knotweed, European Swamp thistle, spotted Knapweek, garlic mustard

Project	Educate Islanders in Invasive Species	Client	Beaver Island
Purpose	Educate Islanders and visitors in 1] recognizing invasive species, 2] methods for safely destroying and removing them from private property, and 3] native plant landscaping to prevent invasives.
Objectives
Project Activities
· Create attractive brochure on invasives recognition and treatment, to be mailed to all 49782 boxholders and placed in each rental unit upon occupancy change. · Propose Regulation and monitoring to minimize the introduction of invasive plant species: E.g. Japanese knotweed. · Propose Regulation and monitoring to minimize the introduction of invasive organisms: E.g. Ash borer: townships ordinance for controlling the import of firewood.

Project	Green Construction	Client	Beaver Island
Purpose	Promote LEED certification
Objectives
Project Activities
· Hold a LEEDs seminar and make LEEDs materials available to builders and homeowners. · Seek out innovative approaches to infrastructure, transportation, tourism, etc., that are especially adapted to protecting important ecosystems, allowing grants and corporate sponsorships to be sought. · Propose small Island industries for demonstration projects: green buildings, innovative energy systems, new ways to manage transportation, new logging techniques, etc. · Develop materials that inform and educate home owners in green building products and services and associated rebates and tax deductions. · Investigate and hold a seminar on permiculture as related to the Island . · Hold a LEEDs seminar and make LEEDs materials available to builders and homeowners.

Program 4		Promote Tourism			Client	Beaver Island Chamber of Commerce
Purpose		Promote responsible recreation and use of island natural habitat
Background: Conference On Biological Diversity
MAINTAIN GOODS AND SERVICES FROM BIODIVERSITY TO SUPPORT HUMAN WELL-BEING GOAL 8: Maintain capacity of island ecosystems to deliver goods and services and support livelihoods · Target 8.1: Capacity of island ecosystems to deliver goods and services maintained or improved · Target 8.2: Biological resources that support sustainable livelihoods, local food security and health care maintained *Work with local and county government health agencies to educate the public on best practices for shoreline ownership. Develop educational packet for new homeowners and encourage septic clean out at point of sale.
Opportunity or Problem Statement				Promote tourism and residency to improve the economy of the island.
Program Goal				This program will continuously evaluate promote all forms of eco-tourism, but will emphasize efforts to expand tourism outside of summer months and permanent residence.
Program Scope				This program will focus on Beaver Island tourist profiles.
Out of Program Scope				This program will be restricted to tourist profiles and island experience not advertising.
Ongoing Program Actions
· Inventory all animal species with the archipelago. · Identify the most important preservation and management challenges based on KPIs. · Review lessons learned from other Great Lakes islands regarding QDM and animal species preservation. · Monitor game species populations (deer, ruffed grouse, turkey, woodcock, hare, and beaver). · Assess predator (coyotes and people) and game and non-game species relationships and consequences.
KPI	Program Scorecard Description						Weight
1	Number of and income per local families						30%
2	Number and dollar value of homes and property sold						20 %
3	Number of visitor weeks per year by profile type.						20%
4	Number and dollar value of buildings constructed and renovated per year						10 %
5	Number of visitor days per season; average dollars per day spent						10%
6	Number of Recreational Environments/Activities.						10%
Threats and Risk: Not enough tourists; destructive human interaction with natural resource.
Too much time will be spent increasing tourist opportunities for the summer season whereas spring and fall is when the island has plenty of extra capacity for tourist.
Team
References			Web site example: www.baldheadisland.com and www.bhic.org
Sub Projects			Hunting / Fishing / Wildlife Viewing / Natural Resources: camping, hiking and biking

Project	Promote Residency	Client	Beaver Island Chamber of Commerce
Purpose	Find tourists who are likely to purchase summer and permanent residences.
Objective
Project Activities
· Investigate and identify companies, which have significant numbers of virtual employees. · Identify virtual types and associated types of recreation associated with those job types. · Identify skills associated with those job types. · Encourage improve air transportation. · Coordinate efforts with Beaver Island Chamber of Commerce

Project	Promote Hunting	Client	Beaver Island
Purpose	Monitor, count, manage, and feed the deer in accordance with the principles of QDM
Objectives
Project Activities
· Contact private property owners to determine if they support QDM and allowing hunters to hunt on their land, since this represents 2/3rds of the Island ’s 58.6 square miles of land area. · Create several deer exclosures to help monitor deer impact, both as a scientific tool and public education that could inform Island residents and visitors. · Work with and support the BIWC and BICC in their effort to initiate QDM at deer density level of 10 deer per square mile (see Appendix J). Work with the BIWC and BICC to lower keep goal at 10.

Project	Promote Fishing	Client	Beaver Island
Purpose
Objectives
Project Activities
· Work with Beaver Wildlife Club to manage fisheries of lakes in the interior. *Engage the DNRE fisheries for more public educational opportunities regarding fish introduction and best practices. · Investigate the feasibility of other fish species, and inter-species conflicts. · Place informational signage at strategic yet-to-be-identified locations, with pamphlets.

Project	Promote Wildlife Viewing	Client	Beaver Island
Purpose	Promote and Improve opportunities for wildlife viewing.
Objectives
Project Activities
· Develop and maintain a wildlife and trails brochure (see appendix B). · Develop and maintain a sites-to-see and driving guide (see appendix I). · Cultivate birders to increase low impact, shoulder-season tourism. Prepare Beaver Island birding trail, and birding guide (all types of birds — songbirds, birds of prey, shore birds – Appendix F

Project	Promote Natural Resources Tourism	Client	Beaver Island
Purpose	Promote Beaver Island ’s natural beauty and recreation
Objectives
Project Activities
· Provide a continuous biking route to promote the Island as a safe place for biking. · Extend King’s Highway bike trail to McCauley Road. · Promote the St. James Harbor as a protected area for motor and sail boat races. · Protect the inland lakes from: septic discharge, invasive species, and chemical run-off from lawn and garden spraying. · Develop guidelines to provide for washing of canoes, kayaks, and small boats that are moved from Lake Michigan to the interior lakes. · Identify, maintain, and preserve areas for camping. · Enhance hiking trails to qualify for official designation by DNR. · Create trail guides for some of the trails, mark the trails, enter into maintenance agreements with the townships for trails on DNR property. Work closely with Peaine Township ’s Trails Committee to coordinate projects with the committee and assist in their efforts.

Program 5		Seek Recognition and Funding			Client	Beaver Island
Purpose		Seek government and academic recognition and funding.
Background: Conference On Biological Diversity
ENSURE PROVISION OF ADEQUATE RESOURCES GOAL 11: Parties have improved financial, human, scientific, technical and technological capacity to implement Targets · Target 11.1: New and additional financial resources are allocated to Beaver Island · Target 11.2: Technologies are transferred to Beaver Island to allow effective implementation of this program of work · Target 11.3: Capacity of Beaver Island to implement this program of work on island biological diversity and all its priority activities is significantly strengthened
Opportunity or Problem Statement				Beaver Island is a topic in many Great Lakes and academic publications. It is represented as one of the Great Lake’s Biological Diverse and endangered island. This provides Islanders with the opportunity to present Beaver Island as a center for Ecological Study.
Program Goal				This program will continuously investigate and attempt to exploit opportunities for academic, state and federal funding to support elements of this plan.
Program Scope				This program will look for exceptional ways to present the ecological environment of all islands in the Great Lakes.
Out of Program Scope				This program will be restricted to investigation of island ecologies.
Ongoing Program Actions
· Develop and maintain an ecological model for islands. · Identify the most important preservation and management challenges based on KPIs. · Provide a liaison to potential study and funding partners off-island. · Develop a proposal temple that is continuously revised and improved. · Work with CMU, MSU and/or U of M to build a comprehensive model for biodiversity study.
KPI	Program Scorecard Description						Weight
1	Dollar amount of funding						20 %
2	Number of proposals submitted						20 %
3	Number of papers ecology published						20 %
4	Number of Whitepapers published						20 %
5	Income per local family						20 %
Threats and Risk: Inadequate private, local, state and academic planning, resources and funding on private.
Too much time will be spent developing proposals and models and not enough necessary restoration will be done.
Team
References
Sub Projects			Publish papers and Whitepapers / Develop and submit proposals

Project	Seek Recognition	Client	Beaver Island
Purpose	Seek governmental agenciy, NGO, and academic recognition
Objective
Project Activities
· Publish a paper on socio-ecological cycle. · Publish a technical paper that summarizes this strategy as an example strategy for islands. · Define innovative approaches to government regulations — such as building permits, infrastructure, etc. · Submit strategy and action plans for approval of DNR/CZM.

Project	Seek Funding	Client	Beaver Island
Purpose	Develop and submit proposals to solicit local, state, federal, and academic funding.
Objectives
Project Activities
· Determine target locations and projects for submitting proposals for federal funding; develop and submit proposals. · Develop and submit proposal to DNR for trail signage and development. · Develop and submit proposal to MDOT and bike clubs for bicycle paths along Kings Hwy. · Determine target locations and projects for submitting proposals for academic funding; develop and submit proposals. · Prioritize projects for local funding; for a current Project Summary, see appendix G.

Programs Outside of the scope of the Plan

CBD Focal Area 5

PROTECT TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES *Develop working network with tribal members of Odawa Chippewa and Ottawa.

GOAL 9: Maintain socio-cultural diversity of indigenous and local communities on islands

· Target 9.1: Measures to protect traditional knowledge, innovations and practices associated with island biological diversity implemented, promoted and facilitated

· Target 9.2: Traditional knowledge, innovations and practices regarding island biodiversity respected, preserved, maintained, and equitably shared with consent of indigenous and local communities

CBD Focal Area 6

NA ENSURE THE FAIR AND EQUITABLE SHARING OF BENEFITS ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF GENETIC RESOURCES

GOAL 10: Ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of island genetic resources

· Target 10.1: All access to genetic resources from islands aligns with the CBD; Rationale: Island biodiversity is unique

· Target 10.2: Benefits arising from commercial and other utilization of island biodiversity genetic resources shared in a fair and equitable way

Appendix A: Plan Development Subtopics

· Enumerate Island eco-tourist assets including habitat, species, and heritage

· Identify the most important conservation challenges in maintaining the integrity of the Island’s ecosystem.

· List, prioritize, and justify conservation projects and action plans

· Educate, inform and facilitate conservation best practices that reflect the values of all Michigan stakeholders including: Beaver Islanders, the DNR, CZM and Nature Conservancy…

· Define, monitor, and report on Key Performance Indicators (appendix D) for feedback and revision of this plan

· Identify Consumers, Markets, and Advertising Opportunities for Ecotourism

· Identify eco-tourism and key service providers

· Seek key group support and funding and DNR approval for action plans

Enumerate Island eco-tourist assets: habitat, species and heritage

· Lake Michigan and its Shoreline for fisherman, boaters, swimmers and sun bathers

· Inland lakes for fisherman, boaters, swimmers and sun bathers

· Wetlands for wildlife and plant life observers and hunters

· Birds of the Island for bird watchers

· Trails to provide marked access to the Island’s interior

· Marked areas of interest (e.g. old growth forest)

· Other islands in the Archipelago

· CMU for eco-education and college credits for college and eternal students

· Great Lakes Island Institute Site

· Native American sites/folklore

· Shipwrecks and Lighthouses

· Island Irish and Mormon Heritage and History

Identify the most important conservation challenges in maintaining the integrity of the Island’s ecosystem

· Identify and locate invasive plant species

· Identify and document business practices that negatively impact the Island’s interior ecosystems

· Identify tourism behavior and resultant damage to the Island’s natural resources

· Identify and document water recreation that negatively impacts lakes, beaches, and dunes

List, prioritize and justify conservation projects and action plans

· Maintain Iron Ore Creek

· Maintain camp sites

· Write Signage and Guidelines

· Inventory pristine sites and protected species

· Enhance trail systems (with State assistance)

· Propose habitat promotion with protection plan

· Develop an Ecology Maintenance Manual

· Provide wetland walkways and viewing platforms (with telescope?)

· Construct new paths, docks, outhouses, fire pits, elderly friendly sites

· Stock lakes with trout — (impact study on native fish and surrounding insects/amphibians in 10 years).

Educate, inform and facilitate conservation best practices that reflect the values of all Michigan stakeholders including: Beaver Islanders, the DNR, CZM and Nature Conservancy…....

· Build an Eco-tourism web site: trails, photos, plants, educational opportunities, archipelago exploration, etc.

· Provide seminars on critical ecosystems topics

· Hold roundtable discussion to gather feedback from residents

Define, monitor and report on Key Performance Indicators (appendix D) for feedback and revision of this plan

· KPI1: Island Gross Domestic Product (IGDP).

· KPI2: Number of houses currently under construction and renovation.

· KPI3: Number of visitor weeks per year.

· KPI4: Dollars spent per visitor week

· KPI5: Number of local families

· KPI6: Income per local family

· KPI7: Number of Recreational Environments/Activities.

· KPI8: Level of quality and number of Beaver Island’s “Pristine” environmental areas

Identify Consumers, Markets and Advertising Opportunities

· Tourist type: Family, individual, camper, RV owner, hiker, biker, boater, hunter, fisherman, swimmer, runner, clubs

· Market segments: city, state, job type, habits, education, income…

· Magazines and newspapers

· Promotional film

· News and Television (not advertising)

· Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources (Peter Anin)

· Brochures

· Internet Advertising

· Build an Eco-tourism web site: trails, photos, plants, educational opportunities, archipelago exploration, etc.

· Magazines and newspapers

· Cruise ships

· Host major events (e.g. Great Lakes Island Institute)

Identify Eco-tourism providers and support services

· Educators: CMU, Historical Society

· Recreation

· Wetland Guides

· Shoreline Guides

· Water Guides: yachting, diving, kayaking, jet skis, water trails with camping sites.

· Transportation

· Maps

· Restaurants

· Rooms for Rent

· Transport: cars, bikes

Seek key group support and funding for action plans

· Island groups: Trail committee, Chamber of Commerce, Beaver Beacon, Northern Islander, News on the Net.

· Off-Island groups: Little Traverse Conservancy, 4H, BSA…

· Grant money: state, local ecology organizations

· Universities: CMU, WMU, EMU, NMU, Michigan State…

· Federal

· State

· Non-profit

· MNFI/DNR/NC

Good Multidisciplinary Support. Every landscape project would benefit from the support of an experienced, multidisciplinary team to refine and implement key strategies. The team may be located on site, within the lead institution, or partner organizations. Moreover, a new project also needs to be able to call upon an experienced landscape conservation practitioner to serve as a sounding board for ideas, to provide advice and counsel, to provide contacts with outside sources of assistance, and to provide hands-on help at the site when needed.

Appendix B: Birds and Animals Seen on Beaver Island

Birds

Animals

Alder Flycatcher

American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)

American Black Duck

American Coot

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)

American Golden Plover- Gull harbor

American goldfinch

American Kestrel

American redstart

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

American tree sparrow

American White Pelican

American Wigeon

American Woodcock

Black and white warbler

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

Bank Swallow

Barn swallow

Barred Owl (Strix varia)

Barrow’s Goldeneye

Bay Breasted Warbler

Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon)

Black Bellied Plover

Black Capped Chickadee

Black throated blue warbler

Black throated green warbler

Black-backed Woodpecker-

Black-billed Cuckoo

Blackburnian warbler

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Blackpoll Warbler

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

Blue Morph of Snow Goose

Blue Winged Teal

Boat tailed grackle

Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)

Bohemian waxwing

Brown Creeper (Certhia americana)

Brown thrasher

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)

Bufflehead

Canada Goose* (Branta canadensis)

Canada warbler

Caspian Tern

Cattle Egret- one time in John Works field

Cedar waxwing

Chestnut sided warbler

Chimney Swift

Chipping sparrow

Cliff swallow

Common Barn Owl

Common Goldeneye

Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)

Common Loon (Gavia immer)

Common Merganser

Common Raven (Corvus corax)

Common snipe

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)

Common yellowthroat

Cooper’s Hawk

Dark eyed junco

Double-Crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)

Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)

Easter Phoebe

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

Eastern Kingbird

Eastern meadowlark

Eastern Screech Owl

Eastern Wood peewee

European starling

Evening grosbeak

Field sparrow

Golden crowned kinglet

Gold-winged Warbler

Grasshopper sparrow

Gray catbird

Gray-cheeked Thrush

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

Great Cormorant

Great crested Flycatcher

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)

Greater Yellowlegs

Green Heron (Butorides virescens)

Green Winged Teal

Green-backed Heron

Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)

Hermit thrush

Herring Gull (Laurus hyperboreus)

Hoary redpoll

Hooded Merganser

Horned Grebe - fall migration between whiskey and garden

Horned Lark

House sparrow

House wren

Indigo bunting

Killdeer

Lapland longspur

Least sandpiper

Lesser Black -backed Gull

Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)

Lesser yellowlegs

Loggerhead shrike

Magnolia warbler

Mallard* (Anas platyrhynchos)

Marbled Godwit

Merlin

Mourning Dove

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)

Nashville warbler

Northern cardinal

Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)

Northern Goshawk

Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)

Northern mockingbird

Northern oriole

Northern Parula Warbler

Northern Pintail

Northern Saw-whet owl

Northern shrike

Orange-crowned Warbler

Orchard oriole

Osprey

Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus)

Palm Warbler

Peregrine Falcon

Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

Pine grosbeak

Pine siskin

Pine warbler

Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)

Purple finch

Purple Martin

Red bellied Woodpecker

Red breasted nuthatch

Red eyed vireo

Red necked Grebe-

Red winged blackbird

Red-breasted Merganser

Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)

Redhead

Red-headed Woodpecker

Red-tailed hawk

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Ring necked Pheasant

Ring-billed Gull

Ring-necked Duck

Rock Dove

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)

Rough Legged Hawk

Ruby crowned kinglet

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)

Rudous sided towhee

Ruffed Grouse* (Bonasa umbellus)

Sanderling

Sandhill Crane (Grus Canadensis)

Savannah sparrow

Scarlet tanager

Sedge wren

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Snow bunting

Snowy Owl

Solitary Sandpiper

Song sparrow

Sora

Spotted Sandpiper

Swainson’s thrush

Swamp sparrow

Tennessee warbler

Tree swallow

Trumpeter Swans

Turkey Vulture

Upland Sandpiper

Veery

Vesper sparrow

Virginia Rail

Warbling vireo

Water pipit

Western Kingbird

Whip-poor-will (Caprimulgus vociferus)

White breasted nuthatch

White crowned sparrow

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

White-winged Crossbill-

Wild Turkey* (Meleagris gallopavo)

Wilson’s Phalarope

Wilson’s Warbler

Winter wren

Wood Duck* (Aix sponsa)

Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)

Yellow headed blackbird

Yellow rumped warbler

Yellow warbler

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)

Mammals found on Beaver Island
White tail deer*
Coyote*
Canadian Black Beaver/brown beaver*
Gray Squirrel/ Black squirrel*
Snow shoe Hare*

Marmot (ground hog)*

Raccoon
Eastern Chipmunk
White footed deer mouse
Weasel- not sure which I've heard them called Ermines?
Muskrat
red backed Vole
Shrew

Animals in Michigan absent on the Island

Wolf

Skunk

Opossum

Black bear

Bob cat

Fisher

Martin

*denotes game animal.

Amphibians and Reptiles of the Island

Family Ranidae

Leopard Frog

Green Frog

Wood Frog

Northern Leopard Frog

Bullfrog, (probably extirpated)

Family Hylidae

Spring Peeper

Family Bufonidae

American Toad

Order Caudata

Family Ambystomatidae

Blue-spotted Salamander

Spotted Salamander

Family Plethodontidae

Red-backed Salamander

Family Salamandridae

Eastern Newt,

Class Reptilia

Family Chelydridae

Common Snapping Turtle

Family Emydidae

Midland Painted Turtle

Family Colubridae

Eastern Garter Snake

Eastern Ribbon Snake

Northern Water Snake

Red-bellied Snake

Northern Ringneck Snake

Smooth Green Snake

Eastern Milksnake

Appendix C: Preserve Beaver Habit Areas while Promoting Tourism (2006 Biodiversity Conference)

Island Targets	Priority Actions (2996 Conference on Biodiversity)	Programs of Work
FOCAL AREA 1: PROTECT THE COMPONENTS OF BIODIVERSITY
GOAL 1: Promote the conservation of the biological diversity of island ecosystems, habitats and biomes
Target 1.1: All of the island pristine habits effectively conserved	1.1.1. Develop and implement integrated policies and measures to conserve key terrestrial and marine ecosystems, habitats important for island biodiversity, and its economy, taking into account the close ecological links within and between island marine and terrestrial ecosystems. 1.1.2. Re-establish components whose populations have been reduced in natural ecosystems 1.1.3. Undertake measures to restore at least 15% of degraded island ecosystems	Direct actions for planning, selecting, establishing, strengthening, and managing, protected area systems and sites. Rehabilitate and restore habitats and degraded ecosystems, as appropriate, as a contribution to building ecological networks, ecological corridors and/or buffer zones. Establish and maintain marine and coastal protected areas that are effectively managed, ecologically based and contribute to a global network of marine and coastal protected areas, building upon national and regional systems, including a range of levels of protection, where human activities are managed, particularly through programs and policies, traditional and cultural practices and agreements.
Target 1.2: Areas of particular importance to island biodiversity are protected consistent with national and regional guidelines	1.2.1. Identify and establish, as appropriate, comprehensive, representative and effectively managed regional systems of protected areas taking into account issues of resilience, ecological and physical connectivity to conserve viable populations of threatened, endemic, and ecologically or culturally important island species. This should be done with the full respect for the rights of the local community and relevant stakeholders and their full and effective participation. Rationale: Many species on islands are often either locally endemic, restricted in range, threatened, or all three, and are unlikely to survive without legal protection.	Direct actions for planning, selecting, establishing, strengthening, and managing, protected area systems and sites. Governance, Participation, Equity and Benefit sharing: enhance and secure involvement of indigenous and local communities and relevant stakeholders Full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities, in full respect of their rights and recognition of their responsibilities, consistent with the law and the participation of relevant stakeholders, in the management of existing, and the establishment and management of new, protected areas Achieve effective management of existing marine and coastal protected areas; facilitate relevant stakeholder, indigenous and local community participation.
GOAL 2: Promote the conservation of island species diversity
Target 2.1: Populations of island species of selected taxonomic groups restored, maintained, or their decline reduced Target 2.2: Status of threatened island species improved	2.1.1. Develop and implement conservation measures and policies, including protection, and where needed, recovery of populations of threatened, endemic, or ecologically or culturally important species and recovery plans. Rationale: Many species have critical ecosystem roles, or are or social or cultural significance to islanders. 2.2.1. Compile detailed inventories of island species, assess their conservation status, including the main threat criteria, and develop the taxonomic expertise necessary to facilitate this. Rationale: Many island species occur in very small populations. The transition from satisfactory conservation status to threatened status can occur with great rapidity.	Global Taxonomy Initiative Implementation c) Develop and implement strategies to support the taxonomic research necessary to implement the Convention; e) Develop and implement capacity-building activities related to the Global Taxonomy Initiative. f) Mobilize financial and technical resources to build and maintain systems and significant institutional infrastructure in order to adequately obtain, collate and curate biological specimens as well as to facilitate information exchange, including repatriation of information, on their biodiversity. Provide financial resources to support capacity-building activities such as, taxonomic training related to specific taxa and information technologies.
GOAL 3: Promote the conservation of island genetic diversity (not a Beaver Island Goal)
Target 3.1: Genetic diversity of valuable island species conserved, and associated indigenous and local knowledge maintained 3.1.1. Develop and implement measures to strengthen in situ of plants and animals and associated knowledge of indigenous and local communities, recognizing the widespread use of landraces of stock strains on islands Rationale: Island communities often have unique human cultures that have considerable knowledge of local biodiversity and have developed a wide range of local crop and domestic stock varieties.
FOCAL AREA 2: PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE USE
GOAL 4: Promote sustainable use and consumption
Target 4.1: Island biodiversity based products are derived from sources that are sustainably managed, and production areas managed, consistent with conservation of biological diversity	4.1.1. Remove subsidies that encourage unsustainable use of island biodiversity (1) and where livelihoods are resource based, support the development of sustainable economic activities (2). Rationale: Subsidies and other economic incentives may have very wide-reaching and rapid detrimental effects on biodiversity in islands. Island species are often restricted to very small populations that are quickly impacted by unsustainable practices.	Remove subsidies that encourage unsustainable use of island biodiversity: Identify perverse incentives and consider the removal or mitigation of their negative effects on biological diversity in order to encourage positive, rather than negative, effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity; Log sensibly. Encourage LEED construction and buy tracts of land for conservancy. To understand and manage the ecosystem in an economic context an ecosystem-management program should: (a) Reduce market distortions that adversely affect biological diversity; (b) Align incentives to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable use; (c) Internalize costs/benefits in a given ecosystem to the extent feasible. (d) Promote sustainable harvesting of wildlife: hunting and fishing; (e) Promote use of pristine areas for non-destructive activities: camping, bird watching, hiking, cycling, kayaking, boating, scuba diving, etc.
Target 4.2: Unsustainable consumption of island biological resources and its impact upon biodiversity is reduced	4.2.1. Adopt measures to ensure sustainable management of coastal and marine biodiversity, with due regard to the conservation of threatened, endemic, ecologically and/or culturally important island species, to prevent, inter alia, over-exploitation and destructive practices. 4.2.2. Adopt measures to promote the sustain-able use of terrestrial and freshwater resources in islands Rationale: Island communities are very largely dependent on local biodiversity. 4.2.3. Apply strategies to sustainable agro-ecosystems use 4.2.4. Develop, adopt and apply strategies appropriate to islands to sustainable use of managed forest ecosystems with biodiversity of importance to the ecological integrity of island societies and economies through improved production and harvesting methods, integrated pest management, water management, fire control, non-timber resources and use of appropriate technologies. 4.2.5. Promote sustainable island tourism best practices.	4.2.1. Ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine and coastal living resources. 4.2.2. Integrate the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity into all relevant sectors of water-resource, taking into account the ecosystem approach”. 4.2.2. Minimize waste and adverse environmental impact and optimize benefits from uses. Rationale: Users should seek to optimize management and to improve selectivity of extractive uses through environmentally friendly techniques, so that waste and environmental impacts are minimized, and socioeconomic and ecological benefits from uses are optimized. 4.2.4. Promote the sustainable use of forest biological diversity. 4.2.5. Maximize the positive benefits of tourism to biodiversity, ecosystems, and economic and social development, and of biodiversity to tourism, while minimizing negative social and environmental impacts from tourism.
Target 4.3: No species of wild flora and fauna on islands is endan-gered by tourism	4.3.1. Prevent trade in Endangered Species of Wild Plants. 4.3.2. Develop and enforce measures to stop illegal, unreported and unregulated harvesting and trading of endangered species of wild flora and fauna.
FOCAL AREA 3: ADDRESS THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY
GOAL 5: Pressures habitat loss, land-use change and degradation, and sustainable water use, reduced on islands
Target 5.1: Rate of loss and degradation of natural habitats in islands significantly decreased	5.1.1. Develop and implement integrated land and water use plans that take into account ecological and physical connectivity and important biodiversity areas. Rationale: Distances from the center of the island to the lake are often short, and impacts on biodiversity in one area are often rapidly reflected in nearby ecosystems. 5.1.2. Develop and apply environmental and socio-economic impact assessment methods prior to land-use conversion such as for agriculture, human settlements, mining, logging, infrastructure development, and tourism and military activities. Rationale: Impact assessment is important when large fractions of remaining ecosystems can be affected by infrastructure development or other human activities.	5.1.1. Ecosystem managers should consider the effects (actual or potential) of their activities on adjacent and other ecosystems. 5.1.2. Environmental Impact Assessment is designed to apply environmental impact assessment methods prior to land-use conversion. Use an Environmental and Social Impact Assessments whenever developments are proposed to take place on, or which are likely to impact on, sacred sites and on lands and waters traditionally occupied or used by indigenous and local communities. They provide general advice on the incorporation of cultural, environmental, including biodiversity-related, and social considerations of indigenous and local communities into new or existing impact-assessment procedures.
GOAL 6: Control threats to island biological diversity from invasive alien species
Target 6.1: Pathways for major potential alien invasive species are identified and controlled on islands	6.1.1. Establish effective control systems at island borders and between and within islands to prevent the movement of invasive alien species. 6.1.2. Collaborate to identify and address pathways for movement of invasive alien species at the island, national, regional and global levels 6.1.3. Develop and implement measures for the early detection and rapid response to the introduction or establishment of invasive alien species in both terrestrial and marine ecosystems Rationale: This is one of the most important issues for island biodiversity, which needs concerted and sustained action.	6.1.1. Implement border controls and quarantine measures for alien species that are or could become invasive to ensure that unintentional or unauthorized introductions of alien species are minimized. Develop programs to share information on invasive alien species (…) with a particular emphasis on cooperation among neighboring islands and the mainland, and among areas with similar ecosystems and histories of invasion. Funding cooperative research efforts toward the identification, preven-tion, early detection, monitoring and control of invasive alien species. Put in place provisions to address unintentional (or intentional) introductions that have become established and invasive. Identify common pathways leading to unintentional introductions with appropriate provisions to minimize them.
Target 6.2: Management plans in place and implemented for major alien species that threaten ecosystems, habitats or species	6.2.1. Develop and implement prevention, eradication and management plans for long-term management of priority invasive alien species. Plans should include, provisions for elimination or control of pathways that lead to the introduction and spread and re-invasion of these species 6.2.2. Enlist the support and cooperation of all sectors of society for appropriate prevention, eradication and management of alien invasive species Rationale: This is one of the most important issues for island biodiversity, which needs urgent, concerted and sustained action.	Mitigation of impacts once the establishment of an invasive alien species has been detected with appropriate steps such as eradication, containment and control, to mitigate adverse effects Eradication is often the best course of action to deal with invasive alien species. Community support is essential to achieve success in eradication work, and is particularly effective when developed through consultation. Containment: when eradication is not appropriate, limits the spread of invasive alien species where the range of the organisms or of a population is small enough. Control measures should focus on reducing the damage caused as well as reducing the number of the invasive alien species.
GOAL 7: Address challenges to island biodiversity from pollution
Target 7.1: Resilience of the components of biodiversity to adapt to climate change in islands maintained and enhanced
Target 7.2: Pollution and its impacts on island biological diversity significantly reduced	7.2.1. Develop and implement measures to prevent and reduce the impact of pollution and waste, also by developing and implementing pollution and waste management plans, with special attention to solid and hazardous waste. 7.2.2. Develop and implement watershed management to prevent siltation and run-off impacts on coastal ecosystems 7.2.3. Implement measures to prevent eutrophication of island coastal ecosystems caused by wastewater run-off.	Implement integrated marine and coastal area management (IMCAM) Apply appropriate policy instruments and strategies, including building of capacity, for the effective implementation of IMCAM, through integration of coastal management activities and watershed management. Undertake direct action to protect the marine environment from negative impacts (such as sea-based and land-based sources of pollution).
FOCAL AREA 4: MAINTAIN GOODS AND SERVICES FROM BIODIVERSITY TO SUPPORT HUMAN WELL-BEING
GOAL 8: Maintain capacity of island ecosystems to deliver goods and services and support livelihoods
Target 8.1: Capacity of island ecosystems to deliver goods and services maintained or improved Target 8.2: Biological resources that support sustainable livelihoods, local food security and health care maintained	8.1.1. Develop policies, programs and actions to ensure the capacity of island ecosystems to deliver goods and services. 8.1.2. Understand and promote the role of island ecosystems and habitats in providing ecosystem services that prevent or mitigate the impacts of natural or anthropogenic disasters and extreme events, and protect islands, island biodiversity and island communities. 8.1.3. Mainstream the management of the risks of natural disasters and extreme events to island biodiversity and communities into the national planning process 8.2.1. Develop policies, programs and actions to ensure the capacity of island ecosystems to deliver goods and services and biological resources that support sustainable livelihoods, local food security and health care.	The Principles and Guidelines for the Sustainable use of Biodiversity provide a frame-work to assist Governments, resource managers, indigenous and local communities, the private sector and other stakeholders on how to ensure that their use of the components of biodiversity will not lead to the long-term decline of biological diversity. Any ecosystem-management program should reduce those market distortions that adversely affect biological diversity and align incentives to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. The greatest threat to biological diversity lies in its replacement by alternative systems of land use. This often arises through market distortions, which undervalue natural systems and populations and provide perverse incentives and subsidies to favor the conversion of land to less diverse systems. Often those who benefit from conservation do not pay the costs associated with conservation and, similarly, those who generate environmental costs (e.g. pollution) escape responsibility. Alignment of incentives allows those who control the resource to benefit and ensures that those who generate environmental costs will pay.
FOCAL AREA 5: PROTECT TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES
GOAL 9: Maintain socio-cultural diversity of indigenous and local communities on islands
Target 9.1: Measures to protect traditional knowledge, innovations and practices associated with island biological diversity implemented, promoted and facilitated	9.1.1. Recognize and protect island traditional knowledge, innovations and practices which improve the understanding, conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity 9.1.2. Develop and implement measures and legislation, where appropriate and in keeping with national laws and relevant international obligations, for the respect and protection of indigenous and local communities rights over their traditional knowledge innovations and practices	Preserve and maintain traditional knowledge, innovations and practices. Develop a set of guiding principles and standards to strengthen the use of traditional knowledge and other forms of knowledge for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. Develop guidelines and proposals for funding from national incentive schemes for indigenous and local communities to preserve and maintain their traditional knowledge, innovations and practices and for the application of such knowledge, innovations and practices in national strategies and programs for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity
Target 9.2: Traditional knowledge, innovations and practices regarding island biodiversity respected, preserved, maintained, and equitably shared with consent of indigenous and local communities	9.2.1. Develop and implement ways and means to share in a fair and equitable way with indigenous and local communities the benefits arising from use of their traditional knowledge, innovations and practices Rationale: Island communities have extensive knowledge of local biodiversity and traditional practices related to its conservation and use, but both knowledge and practices are vulnerable to social change misuse and misappropriation.	Develop guidelines for the development of mechanisms, legislation or other appropriate initiatives to ensure: (i) that indigenous and local communities obtain a fair and equitable share of benefits arising from the use and application of their knowledge, innovations and practices; (ii) that private and public institutions interested in using such knowledge, practices and innovations obtain the prior informed approval of the indigenous and local communities; (iii) advancement of the identification of Governments’ obligations where such knowledge, innovations, practices and associated genetic resources are used. Encourage Parties and other Governments, when addressing research needs and activities on the impacts of climate change on biodiversity, to involve indigenous and local communities and other relevant stakeholders, particularly on issues related to ecosystem health, human health, traditional knowledge, and livelihoods;
FOCAL AREA 6: ENSURE THE FAIR AND EQUITABLE SHARING OF BENEFITS ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF GENETIC RESOURCES
GOAL 10: Ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of island genetic resources
Target 10.1: All access to genetic resources from islands aligns with the CBD; Rationale: Island biodiversity is unique
Target 10.2: Benefits arising from commercial and other utilization of island biodiversity genetic resources shared in a fair and equitable way 10.2.1. Establish administrative, legislative and/or regulatory measures and systems in line with the Convention to ensure access to genetic resources, in particular those endemic to islands, and ensure that benefits arising from their utilization are fairly and equitably shared Rationale: Island biodiversity is unique.
FOCAL AREA 7: ENSURE PROVISION OF ADEQUATE RESOURCES
GOAL 11: Parties have improved financial, human, scientific, technical and technological capacity to implement the Convention Targets
Target 11.1: New and additional financial resources are allocated to Beaver Island	11.1.1. Develop and strengthen partnership at all levels and across sectors to finance the program of work 11.1.2. Provision of additional financial resources from the financial mechanism of the Convention. 11.1.3. Assess, develop and implement a range of conserva-tion finance mechanisms at the local and national levels	Encourage integration of protected areas needs into national and, where applicable, regional development and financing strategies and development cooperation programs. Assist in developing synergy-oriented programs to conserve and sustainably manage all ecosystems, such as forests, wetlands and marine environments that also contribute to poverty eradication. Implementation an elaborated program of work on marine and coastal biodiversity.
Target 11.2: Technologies are transferred to Beaver Island to allow for effective implementation of this program of work	11.2.1. Identify and develop or transfer knowledge, science and technology appropriate to islands for the conservation and sustainable use of island biodiversity 11.2.2. Develop island-based technology to support conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity	(f) Increase of scientific collaboration, including the transfer of marine science and marine technologies and techniques for the conservation and management of marine resources. (g) Build capacity in marine science by promoting use of environmental impact assess-ments and environmental evaluation and reporting techniques for projects or activities that are potentially harmful to coastal and marine environments and their resources. (h) Undertake capacity-building, technology transfer, public education and aware-ness, and training in order to improve the implementation of this program of work.
Target 11.3: Capacity of Beaver Island to implement this program of work on island biological diversity and all its priority activities is significantly strengthened	11.3.1. Where appropriate, strengthen the capacity to develop and implement mechanisms to support this program. 11.3.2. Promote the sharing of best practices within and among islands, and enhance learning opportunities for all relevant groups, including governments, non-governmental organizations and indigenous and local communities, to accelerate effective implementation of this program of work 11.3.3. Develop and implement effective communication and public awareness and education programs at all levels, to promote the program of work on island biodiversity, taking into account local capacity, language and culture 11.3.4. Adopt an integrated, inter-disciplinary and participatory approach at all levels of planning, management, inventory, monitoring, and governance involving all stakeholders related to the understanding, conservation and sustainable use of island biodiversity 11.3.5. Develop the capacity for a national and regional biodiversity monitoring program 11.3.6. Strengthen regional cooperation particularly between Great Lakes islands	11.3.1. Work on Marine and Coastal Biological Diversity a) Develop lake policies and mechanisms for integrated management. (b) Strengthen capacity to enable their effective participation in all elements of research on marine and coastal biodiversity. (d) Provide assistance to the island in coordinating policies and programs aimed at the conservation and sustainable management of fishery resources and coastal plans. (e) Form partnerships between islands to enhance capacity for implementation (g) Build capacity in marine science, information and management. (h) Undertake capacity-building, technology transfer, public education and awareness, and training in order to improve the implementation of this program. 11.3.2. Exchange knowledge and expertise towards a communication, education and public awareness network 11.3.3.Promote education and public awareness of the causes of invasion and the risks associated with the introduction of alien species 11.3.4. Apply an ecosystem approach to reach a balance of the three objectives of the Convention: 1] conservation; 2] sustainable use; and 3] fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. 11.3.5/6: Develop and implement biodiversity indicators for small islands; and encourage sharing experience in development and use of indicators and monitoring; cooperate and promote harmonized procedures for data acquisition, computation and reporting.

Conference on Biological Diversity (http://www.cbd.int/island/pow.shtml)

At its eighth meeting (Brazil, March 2006), the Conference adopted the first program of work dedicated solely to uniqueness and fragility of island biodiversity. Its aim is to reduce significantly the rate of island biodiversity loss by 2010 and beyond as a contribution to poverty alleviation and the sustainable development of islands. The program of work sets out almost 50 island-specific priority actions arranged under 11 goals, which are organized under seven focal areas:

1. Protect the components of biodiversity
2. Promote sustainable use
3. Address threats to biodiversity
4. Maintain goods and services from biodiversity to support human well-being
5. Protect traditional knowledge and practices
6. Ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of genetic resources
7. Ensure provision of adequate resources

Island Biodiversity: Islands are lands isolated by surrounding water and with a high proportion of coast to hinterland; they must be populated, separated from the mainland by a distance of at least two kilometres, and measure between 0.15 square kilometres and the size of Greenland (2.2 million square kilometres). Islands boast a biodiverse assemblage of life. Species become island dwellers; over time, this isolation exerts unique evolutionary forces that result in the development of a distinct genetic reservoir and the emergence of highly specialized species with new characteristics and the occurrence of unusual adaptations. Genetic diversity and population sizes tend to be limited, and species often become concentrated in small confined areas. Islands make a contribution to global biodiversity that is out of proportion to their land area, containing some of the richest reservoirs of plants and animals on Earth.

Importance of Island Biodiversity - While much can be said of biodiversity in other settings, the components of biodiversity and the ecosystems is critical on islands. Island economies, particularly are among the most vulnerable, considering the relative lack of economic alternatives available and such factors as:

· Small populations and economies
· Weak institutional capacity in both the public and the private sector
· Remoteness from international markets
· Susceptibility to natural disasters and climate change
· Fragility of land and marine ecosystems
· High cost of transportation
· Limited diversification in production and exports
· Dependence on international markets, export concentration, and income volatility
· Vulnerability to exogenous economic shocks.

Island biodiversity is not only of vital importance to island dwellers. Islands are repositories of genetic information whose present-day biodiversity stands as a record of millions of years of evolution. This biodiversity has an inherent value to humankind the world over and calls for such actions as the development of strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, provision of public education on biodiversity, establishment of gene banks for reintroduction in case of disaster, research on and inventories of biodiversity, protection of intellectual property rights, the involvement of non-governmental organizations, women and indigenous and local community groups, regional action to protect biologically significant sites, studies of the value of biological resources, the regional exchange of information, capacity-building, protection from the introduction of alien invasive species, and improved access to financial and technical resources for the management of biodiversity.

Strategic Plan for the Convention on Biological Diversity

1. Strategic Plan Development - In 2002, 10 years after opening the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Parties developed this Strategic Plan in order to guide its further implementation at the national, regional and global levels.

2. The purpose is to effectively halt the loss of biodiversity so as to secure the continuity of its beneficial uses through the conservation and sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.

3. Biodiversity is the living foundation for sustainable development - Biodiversity-the variability within and among living organisms and the systems they inhabit-is the foundation upon which human civilization has been built. In addition to its intrinsic value, biodiversity provides goods and services that underpin sustainable development in many important ways, thus contributing to poverty alleviation.

4. The rate of biodiversity loss is increasing at an unprecedented rate, threatening the very existence of life as it is currently understood. The maintenance of biodiversity is a necessary condition for sustainable development, and constitutes one of the great challenges of the modern era.

5. The threats must be addressed requiring immediate and long-term fundamental changes in the way resources are used and benefits are distributed. Achieving these adjustments will require broad-based action among a wide range of actors.

6. The Convention is an essential instrument for achieving sustainable development - The importance of the biodiversity challenge was universally acknowledged at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, which met in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, and through the development of the Convention on Biological Diversity. In ratifying the Convention, the Parties have committed themselves to undertaking national and international measures aimed at its achieving three objectives: the conservation of biological diversity; the sustainable use of its components; and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.

7. Achievements - Since the adoption of the Convention, the Conference of the Parties has met several times and, on each occasion, through its decisions has taken steps to translate the Conventions general provisions into practical action. This process has initiated national action plans in over 100 countries, raised awareness about biodiversity and led to the adoption of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, a treaty that provides a regulatory framework for the safe transfer, handling and use of any living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology.

Appendix D: Islands of Life: A Biodiversity and Conservation Atlas of the Great Lakes Islands

For more information, contact the Nature Conservancy of Canada at 1-800-465-0029, the Natural Heritage Information Centre at 1-705-755-2159 or The Nature Conservancy at Michigan@tnc.org

With over 32,000 islands, the North American Great Lakes contain the largest collection of freshwater islands in the world. Ranging in size from small rocky knolls to the largest freshwater island in the world, these special places are globally unique and rich in biodiversity.

By their very nature, islands are isolated and sensitive to change. The attributes that make them refuges for natural heritage and biological diversity, also makes many of them relatively unknown and understudied.

This project produced a comprehensive spatial database of Great Lakes islands and their associated biodiversity values, threats and conservation status. Then an ecologically-based analysis was completed to identify the islands and island complexes within the Great Lakes that are the highest priority for conservation action.

Our results confirm the high conservation value of previously known globally significant biodiversity island areas... Individual islands or island complexes that stand out in terms of biodiversity include Manitoulin Island, Pelee Island and other western Lake Erie islands, Walpole Island, Great La Cloche Island and Point aux Pins (Rondeau area), Drummond Island, the Beaver Island archipelago, among others... Many of the islands that are highest in biodiversity are also subject to greater threats from human activity.

Over 318,000 hectares of Great Lakes islands and island complexes have important natural heritage values and biodiversity significance. Nearly one-third of this area is protected under federal, provincial or state legislation.

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) built a science-based, multi-disciplinary approach to classify and assess Great Lakes islands to enhance our understanding of the biodiversity of these islands and to identify and prioritize the conservation needs of significant Great Lakes islands...

This process results in a strategic step towards ensuring long-term conservation of priority island areas in the Great Lakes basin... The results from this project, then, are designed to integrate and present information that can be used as a guide to help individuals and groups focus their local conservation efforts throughout the Great Lakes region.

Island Biogeography

The adaptive responses of species to island environments have been well described. Originating in the theory of island biogeography (McArthur and Wilson, ’63, ‘67) several predictable patterns of diversity on islands have been established:

· larger islands tend to be more species-rich than small islands

· less isolated islands tend to be more species-rich than more isolated islands

· species-richness is lower on small, isolated islands than on large, less isolated islands due to higher extinction rates and slower colonization rates

· high rates of endemism are found on islands, especially islands that have been isolated for long time periods (tens of thousands to millions of years)

· some species are absent or disproportionately abundant on islands.

· islands tend to be more susceptible to extrinsic anthropogenic disturbances (Cronk, 1997)

…Island biota is dynamic. For islands that were, at one time, part of the mainland (e.g. Beaver Island), species composition on these islands could include the original set of species associated with the mainland plus any species that have dispersed to the island after its separation from the mainland.

The primary mechanisms bringing species to islands include flotsam (debris floating in the water), air transport (e.g., seeds carried to the island by birds or bats), swimming to or walking on ice from the mainland, or deliberate or accidental anthropogenic introductions (Scharf, 1973). Some reptiles and amphibians may have arrived on some Great Lakes islands via flotsam (Hatt et al., 1948) or simply carried by water currents to island shorelines. Gulls may transport seeds of plants on their feathers and feet when they fly from mainland feeding sites to island nesting areas (Hogg and Morton, 1983). Migratory birds visit islands frequently during migration; some remain to breed (Scharf, 1973). Mammals, such as Black Bears, are known to cross water barriers of at least several kilometers to visit islands (Corin, 1976) while non-hibernating mammals, such as coyotes and wolves travel to islands over the ice (Judziewicz, 2001), therefore increasing their chances of colonization.

Anthropogenic activities may be increasingly important mechanisms for dispersing species to islands. Some introductions are deliberate, such as the introduction of White-tailed Deer to islands in the Beaver Island archipelago (Hatt et al., 1948), while other introductions are almost certainly accidental, such as the arrival of Garlic Mustard on Washington Island in Lake Michigan (Judziewicz, 2001).

Specialized Biodiversity

Many islands in the Great Lakes basin provide habitat for specialized plants, animals and ecological communities. These Great Lakes islands may support:

relict species and plant communities
unusual or high quality plant communities due to the absence of some biota (e.g., some invasive species)
high concentrations of migrating and nesting birds, or other taxa (e.g., snakes)
important spawning areas for fishes in offshore shoals (Manny, 2004)

Biodiversity Analysis

Islands and island complexes were scored based on a suite of scoring criteria to determine their associated conservation value by assigning each island or islands complex a total biodiversity score. Many biodiversity scoring criteria were based on the previous work of Ewert et al., 2004. The scoring criteria can be described as follows.

· Species (composed up to 20% of the total biodiversity score). This group of criteria included the diversity of extant element occurrences of rare species tracked by the state Heritage Programs and provincial Conservation Data Centres, breeding sites of colonial nesting waterbirds, species at risk and species of global biodiversity value including those that are either endemic, disjunct or declining in the Great Lakes, and species that are globally rare.

· Plant Communities (composed up of 11% of the total biodiversity score). This group of criteria included the diversity of extant element occurrences of plant communities tracked by the state Heritage Programs and provincial Conservation Data Centres, and the diversity of globally rare plant communities.

· Ecological Systems (composed up to 33% of the total biodiversity score). This group of criteria included terrestrial ecological system diversity (number of different natural ecological system types), presence of key ecological systems (i.e. alvars, wetlands, grass and meadow, prairie and savannahs, limestone plain forests), presence of key shoreline combination types (i.e. wetlands, exposed bedrock bluffs, shelving bedrock, sand beaches), presence of rivers and streams, presence of wetlands and presence of lakes.

· Ecosystem Functions (composed up to 17% of the total biodiversity score). This group of criteria included the degree of isolation the island or island complex has from other islands and/or the mainland, presence of roosting and foraging shorebirds, waterfowl and landbirds, and the known occurrences and suitable habitat of interjurisdictional fish species. Interjurisidictional fish species migrate and move among different jurisdictions (Ewert et al., 2004)[8].

· Physical Diversity: (composed up to 17% of the total biodiversity score). This group of criteria included an index of shape complexity, geological diversity and shoreline diversity.

· Size of the island or island complex: (composed up to 6% of the total biodiversity score). This criterion categorized the islands and islands complexes within each coastal environment or coastal reach into 10 natural breaks based on size and scored them accordingly. Therefore, the size range of islands vary depending on the their associated coastal environment or coastal reach rather than comparing an island’s relative size in Lake Superior to an island’s relative size in Lake Erie for example.

· Distinctiveness: (composed up to 5% of the total biodiversity score – scored in Ontario only). This criterion is a similarity index to compare ecological systems, geology and shorelines of islands and island complexes throughout the coastal environment to provide a measure of which islands or islands classes are representative and which are unique within their coastal environment.

Biodiversity scoring criteria is summarized in the table.

Measures for Scoring Criteria (all classes)		Scoring Category	Area Analyzed
Biological Diversity
Species
C1	Diversity of Rare Species	all extant rare species Element Occurrences (EOs)	ON, US
C2	Colonial Nesting Waterbirds		ON, US
C2P1	Diversity of colonial waterbird use	Known breeding by selected species	ON, US
C2P2	Importance for colonial waterbird populations	Top breeding island sites for all species	ON, US
C3	Global Biodiversity Values - species		ON, US
C3P1		diversity of endangered species	ON, US
C3P2		diversity of Great Lakes endemic species	ON, US
C3P3		diversity of Great Lakes disjunct species	ON only
C3P4		diversity of Great Lakes declining species	ON only
C4	Species At Risk (SAR)	Federal and/or provincial SAR (Endangered, Threatened, Special Concern)	ON only
Plant Communities
C5	Diversity of Rare Plant Communities	all extant EOs of plant communities	ON, US
C6	Diversity of Globally Rare Communities	all extant G1-G3 occurrences	ON, US
Ecological Systems
C7	Ecological system diversity (terrestrial)	Number of different natural ecological systems	ON, US
C8	Presence of key ecological systems		ON, US
C9	Presence of key shoreline combination type		ON, US
C10	Presence of rivers and streams		ON, US
C11	Presence of wetlands		ON, US
C12	Presence of lakes		ON, US
Ecosystem Functions
C13	Isolation	distance from mainland and other classes	ON, US
C14	Birds		ON, US
C14P1		Presence of roosting, foraging shorebirds	ON only
C14P2		Presence of roosting, foraging waterfowl	ON only
C14P3		Stopover sites for landbirds	ON, US
C15	Fish Habitat		ON, US
C15P1		Known occurrences of interjurisdictional fish species	ON, US
C15P2		Suitable habitat for interjurisdictional fish species	ON, US
Physical Diversity
C16	Shape Complexity	area:perimeter ratio	ON, US
C17	Geological Diversity		ON, US
C17P1		Presence of key geology types
C17P2		Number of different geology types
C18	Shoreline Diversity	Number of different shoreline types	ON, US
Size
C19	Size (Island or Island Complex)	based on 10 natural breaks within a coastal environment	ON, US
Distinctiveness
C20	Similarity Index		ON only

Colonial Nesting Waterbirds

Islands throughout the world provide essential habitat for colonial nesting birds. Food resources are available in the surrounding waters and the isolation of islands from the mainland provides nesting birds refuge from predators. Great Lakes islands support large nesting colonies of Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Black-crowned Night-heron, Common Tern, Caspian Tern and Double-crested Cormorant. Most of the world’s Ring-billed Gull population occurs in the Great Lakes region and nests on islands. Great Blue Heron, Great Egret and Great Black-backed Gull also nest in colonies on islands but these species are less dependent on Great Lakes island habitat. While most of these species are common in the Great Lakes region, the number of areas where they find suitable nesting habitat is relatively low…

Most colonial nesting sites are found in Lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario. The islands most important for colonial nesting waterbirds include, but are not limited to: Gull Island, High Bluff Island, Little Galloo Island and Pigeon Island in Lake Ontario; Middle Island, East Sister Island and West Sister Island in Lake Erie; Hat Island, Rocky Island, Round Island and Snake Island in Lake Michigan; Bird Island, Chantry Island, Green Island, Saginaw Combined Disposal Facility and South Watcher Island in Lake Huron; and Interstate Island in Lake Superior (Wires and Cuthbert 2001, Patrikeev 2006).

The colonial nesting species have slightly different habitat requirements (Cadman et al. 2007). For example Caspian Terns prefer the more elevated areas of islands, but several species may nest in close proximity. Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Tern and Caspian Tern all nest on the ground while Black Crowned Night-heron, Great Blue Heron and Great Egret prefer to nest in shrubs and trees. Double-crested Cormorant nests in trees but will nest on the ground where no trees are available. Perennial use of the same trees for nesting by cormorants results in the destruction of the trees after 7-10 years…

Reliable quantitative data are now available on the overall abundance of colonial nesting species in the Great Lakes. For example, in four of the Great Lakes, the number of Herring Gulls increased from the first census in the late 1970s to the second census in the late 1980s but then had decreased by the third census in late 1990s (Morris et al. 2003). In Lake Huron there was a decline throughout this period. Inter-colony and inter-lake movement of colonial waterbirds can affect the abundance at any one location.

Double-crested Cormorants in the Canadian Great Lakes increased from approximately 21, 000 pairs to 76, 000 pairs between 1990 and 2000. The abundance of this species in the Great Lakes region has become a concern due to the destruction of vegetation at some nesting sites, nutrient enrichment from guano and perceived competition with humans for fish resources. Culls have been carried out by management agencies, but this activity has been controversial.

Protection Analysis

Each island and island complex was assessed to determine the proportion of protected and/or conservation lands. This analysis was used to identify gaps in protected areas and conservation needs.

Protected lands are described as areas regulated by federal, state or provincial laws. These can include regulated provincial parks and conservation reserves, unregulated provincial parks and conservation reserves, national parks, national marine conservation areas, national wildlife areas, migratory bird sanctuaries, state parks, wilderness areas, U.S. federal ecological reserves and nature preserves, national wildlife refuges, waterfowl production areas and natural areas.

Other natural heritage designations are areas not regulated as protected lands by federal, state or provincial laws but are within conservation ownership or subject to designations or policies that limits the threat of development to key biodiversity features. These areas may also be currently unregulated areas but are recommended to be regulated by federal, state or provincial laws in the future. Other land use designations are generally areas that are on public land where protection of natural heritage is a priority but some resource use can take place with appropriate conditions. These can include enhanced management areas (CAN), forest reserves (CAN, U.S.) and wetland reserve program land.

Threats Analysis

A suite of threats to island biodiversity were identified to categorize islands and island complexes in each coastal environment into five general threat categories based on natural breaks of the total relative threat score. These general categories are low, low/medium, medium, medium/high and high. The threat category suggests the level of threat on a particular island in relation to other islands in the same coastal environment - it does not suggest the level of threat on an island in relation to islands in other coastal environments. For example, a higher level of threat of an island in North-west Bays does not equate to the same higher level of threat associated with an island in the Detroit River. The higher level of threat associated with an island in Northwest Bays is in relation to the relative level of threat to other islands in Northwest Bays. In general, islands close to major population centers are more highly threatened than remote islands.

The suite of threats on islands and island complexes included presence of and proximity to pits and quarries, distance to mining claims, road densities, building densities and the percent of island or island complex converted to cropland. Islands and island complexes in Ontario were also scored on direct threats that included high-use recreational beach area, recreational dive sites, lighthouses, anchorage sites, boat launches, access site for land vehicles, residential/ recreational or cottage use areas, camp/ recreation sites, tourism establishment areas, cottage residential areas, cottage residential sites, and building density as well as the presence of aquatic invasive species. There was insufficient data in the United States to include the occurrences of these direct threats on American islands and island complexes. Vigmostad et al., 2007 includes descriptions of other types of threats to Great Lakes islands.

The most threatened islands throughout the Great Lakes are found in Table 6. This table includes adjusted threat scores for islands with only measures of threats that were scored in both analyses. There is a moderate degree of correlation between total biodiversity score and relative threat score (Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.38). Figure 4 demonstrates the relative threat and relative total biodiversity scores for the top 10 islands with high biodiversity (Table 5). Some of these islands with high biodiversity are also listed in the table as islands most threatened.

Number	Island Name	Grouped Coastal Environment	Relative Threats Score
1	Manitoulin Island (North)	South Coast North Channel	265
2	St. Joseph Island (West)	St. Mary’s River	62
3	Grosse Isle	St. Clair and Detroit River	45
4	Grand Island (West)	Welland Canal – Niagara River	44
5	Grand Island (East)	Welland Canal – Niagara River	43
6	Manitoulin (South)	Lake Huron Northern Coast	37
7	Kelleys Island	Western Lake Erie Islands	36
8	Drummond Island (Main)	South Coast North Channel	35
9	Wellesley, Sugar, South Bass, Harsens, Madeline Islands	Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, St. Marys River, Lake St. Clair	33
10	Beaver Island, Wolfe Island	Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario	32

Landscape Context for Lake Michigan Islands

Lake Michigan is the third largest of the Great Lakes, and the only Great Lake located entirely within the United States. The Lake Michigan coastline supports 12 million people, with the southern tip of the lake heavily industrialized. Many small cities in Northern Michigan are centred on recreational development and tourism. There is a large seasonal population that is attracted to the Lake Michigan beaches… and extends to some of the islands.

The majority of the islands are concentrated in the northern portion of the lake close to the mainland. The remainder of the islands primarily hug the mainland shoreline in the remainder of the lake. Beaver Island, in the northeastern portion of the lake, is the largest island in the lake basin.

Biodiversity Assessment

The bedrock of the islands is predominantly dolomite. Manitou Islands are limestone with limited representation of shale and black shale. Larger islands can include communities such as mature forests and inland wetlands and beach shorelines. Smaller islands are characterized by beaches or rock outcrops that may have sparse vegetation.

There are more than six globally rare species documented on Lake Michigan islands, including Dwarf Lake Iris, Houghton’s Goldenrod, Pitcher’s Thistle and Piping Plover. Over a dozen (rare) species are documented from Lake Michigan islands. These species include American Bittern, Common Tern, Michigan Monkey-flower, Calypso and Pumpelly’s Bromegrass.

Many of the islands in upper Lake Michigan have high biological diversity, including sites for colonial nesting waterbirds along the northern fringe and Door Peninsula as well as providing important ecosystem functions such as suitable habitat and occurrence of fish. The highest scoring islands for biodiversity in Lake Michigan include Beaver Island, Washington Island (east and west), Garden Island and Hog Island. Many of the northern Lake Michigan islands also have key terrestrial ecological system diversity and the presence of globally rare species.

Threats to Biodiversity

Many of the islands in Lake Michigan do not have documented threats associated with them. Approximately five percent of the islands in Lake Michigan have limited residential and recreational development. Beaver Island and Washington Island are considered to be the most threatened islands in the basin as they have considerable residential and recreational development. Washington Island also has sand and gravel pits on its western side.

Conservation Assessment

Approximately six percent of the islands have some type of conservation status or designation. Nearly one-third of Lake Michigan islands having high biological diversity scores are protected. Beaver Island, the highest scoring biodiversity island, has approximately one-third of its area protected as nature preserves or conservation easements as well as wildlife areas and forest management areas. Beaver Island has a higher number of documented threats for Lake Michigan. Nearby Garden Island and Hog Island are also high scoring biodiversity islands but with very limited threats and are included within the Beaver Island State Wildlife Research Area Beaver Islands Group managed for conservation.

Humans tend to think of dunes and the associated beaches as areas primarily for our recreation. The more accessible beaches are of course popular holiday destinations and they can be crowded with sunbathers, vehicles and cottages. Dune ecosystems of the Great Lakes are also globally unique ecosystems that provide habitat for many rare plants and animals and are now the focus of significant conservation efforts. The Great Lakes contain the most extensive freshwater dune systems in the world (Pitcher’s Thistle – Dune Grasslands website 2009).

Pitcher’s Thistle and Dune Ecosystems

Dunes are formed at the head of small coves, in large arching bays, or on the tops of low forelands, baymouth bars and tombolo bars (a sandbar that connects an island to the mainland or another island) (Jalava, 2006). Sand is carried by currents flowing along the shore and deposited where the current slows. It is carried on shore and deposited on higher ground by the wind. Dune systems in coastal areas of islands and the mainland can consist of a single low beach ridge or of multiple ridges, varying in size and shape. Dunes and beaches are inherently dynamic systems and are eroded and added to continually by the wind, currents and storm events. Dune ecosystems are adapted to constant natural disturbances but they are vulnerable to overuse by humans. Vegetation colonizing dunes helps to stabilize them: grasses and small herbaceous plants are the first colonizers, followed by shrubs and trees. Dune vegetation can be very extensive with wetlands, grasslands and forests interspersed along former beach ridges.

Dune vegetation types cover a range from sparsely vegetated dune grasslands to meadow marshes to dune and swale forests and swamps. Some of these types are nationally and globally rare and are of conservation concern.

Excellent examples of Great Lakes dune ecosystems occur on islands. Great Duck Island, Western Duck Island, and Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron; the Manitou Islands, Beaver Island, High Island, Garden Island and Bois Blanc Island in Lake Michigan; and Grand Island in Lake Superior all support outstanding dune ecosystems.

Dune grasslands support an array of uncommon and rare plants and animals. Pitcher’s Thistle is an endangered species that occurs in dune grasslands, and is found only in the Great Lakes region (Jalava, 2006)... Plants growing in association with Pitcher’s Thistle include American Beach Grass, Long-leaved Sand Reed, Little Bluestem, Wild Rye and Lyre-leaved Sand Cress (Higman and Penskar, 1999)... Pitcher’s Thistle produces a substantial basal rosette of leaves but requires 5-8 years of growth before it flowers. Insects, like bees and butterflies, are important agents in pollination and the seeds are dispersed by wind and water. This plant, like other plants of dune ecosystems, is adapted to a changing environment subject to periodic disturbance, but intensive foot and vehicular traffic can increase erosion, destroying vegetation and introducing non-native species like Bouncing Bet and Spotted Knapweed (Albert, 2000).

Historically, the beaches and fore-dunes of Great Lakes islands provided extensive breeding habitat for the Piping Plover, a bird designated as Endangered in both the U.S. and Canada. The number of pairs nesting in the Great Lakes declined drastically in the 1940s and 1950s, along with increasing shoreline development. A small number of Piping Plovers continues to breed on islands in the Great Lakes, so there is still hope that this population can recover.

Appendix E: Key Performance Indicators

There are cycles that drive the environment which we understand in a limited way. The subsequent pages illustrate the interaction of those cycles; first for the biosphere which you are free to ignore, then for Great Lakes islands (e.g. Beaver Island). It is important to acknowledge that most of us live on Beaver Island precisely because it is not pristine. We are the reason Beaver Island is at the top of the list for endangered habitat. We like our house on the beach or near wetlands; we need our grocery and hardware stores; we like to eat out occasionally and imbibe (some more often than others). We also like to get back and forth to the island in some marginally convenient fashion with a great deal of possessions. We like to get from one end of the island to other and back in less than a day.

Our requirements to live a comfortable, serene life are at odds with maintaining the pristine nature of island habitats and endangered species. Also, it is important to remember that without an island infrastructure and industry, we would all have to be self-sufficient for food, supplies, repairs, energy and transportation. Residential construction sustains the island economy but damages habitat.

Here are several examples of Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for measuring island wellness:

KPI1: Island Gross Domestic Product (IGDP).

KPI2: Number of houses currently under construction and renovation.

KPI3: Number of visitor weeks per year.

KPI4: Dollar value per visitor week spent

KPI5: Number of local families

KPI6: Income per local family

KPI7: Number of Recreational Environments/Activities.

KPI8: Level of quality and number of Beaver Island’s “Pristine” environmental areas

Notice that the economic KPI1-6 are fairly easy to measure, but the last and most important KPI8 will require creativity to measure and improve. Everyone on the committee and the island must understand that KPI8 is the most important indicator for the long term economic viability of the island and it is the one we must adaptively manage. Do we manage habitat for animals and specifically for deer? Or do we also manage habitat for everything like bird migrations, camping, fishing, walking, bird watching, plant watching, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, etc.? And what does that entail? My uneducated intuition says to do as little management as possible and monitor all of the KPIs.

Also, consider that any ecotourism activity (including hunting) improvement will have a small economic impact if that activity occurs in an already high tourism time period when most accommodations are close to full. It is better to focus on tourism from October through May. Also, increasing the number of local residents will improve the economy significantly (KPI1,2,5,6). Virtual employees and retirees may increase local population, but will require better plane service and health care.

It is proposed that Complex Adaptive Ecosystems models be used to define the dynamic nature of Beaver Island’s Ecosystem described on a later page. Such a model could define all the elements for the entire archipelago and be used to attract government funding for a Beaver Island ecosystems laboratory. This funding would be used to maintain the pristine areas of the island and increase economic activity with people to study and observe ecosystems improving KPI3 and KPI4.

Our predator-prey relationships may be interesting because there is one major predator on the island: the coyote. Owls and Eagles are predators as well but they eat small rodents. Coyotes, on the other hand, are one of the few predators on the planet whose numbers are increasing and they will eat rodents, birds, raccoons, small pets and even deer. Actually, there is another predator on the island: us. Both predators are extremely adaptive, but the supply of hunters and coyotes is limited and potentially countable. It may also be possible to measurably understand the coyote/hunter impact on the deer population. There may be more economic value in becoming a QDM laboratory and knowledge center than would be derived from improving the quality of game.

Even though construction and logging is outside the purpose of the eco-tourism committee, it has a significant impact on habitat and cannot be ignored in any ecological model. LEED is a rating system used to rate construction’s friendliness to the environment based on the construction methods and material employed. Part of this modeling effort should evaluate the effectiveness of LEED and suggests changes where appropriate. This will impact KPI1 and KPI2. I see no value in logging on the island.

The economic and ecological viability of the island will always be in tension because the island’s economy depends on its pristine nature for much of its income either by people who want to build a vacation home here or just want to visit. This presents us with the problem that many people who live here year around our dependent on construction which can destroy habitat and reduce island’s pristine habitats. Therefore, we may consider a socio-ecological model as one which optimizes our conflicting goals and KPIs.

The reason building a model is so important is two fold. The first is to help us better understand our environment so that we can protect both the island’s environment and its economy. The second and equally important is to attract government funding for such an analysis so that we can attract scientists with expert knowledge for the task which coincidently improves KPI1 and KPI8. Fortunately, both Michigan State University and University of Michigan have recognized experts in Complex Adaptive Ecosystems who can develop and validate the models.

The reason KPIs are important is that we need to develop categories of what is important and continuously measure our performance to them much like business measures a portfolio of development projects.

Appendix F: Adaptive Management Cycle

The starting point of the cycle involves determining who will participate in your project and what your overall mission is.

Step A, once this is clear, involves assessing the conditions and determining the major threats to biodiversity at your project site. Using a conceptual model, your project team defines the conditions and relationships between key factors at your project site.

Step B involves using this model to develop a project management plan that outlines the results that your team would like to accomplish and the specific actions that your team will undertake to reach them.

Step C involves developing a LONG TERM- monitoring plan for assessing your progress in implementing the project.

Step D involves implementing your actions and monitoring plan.

Step E involves analyzing the data collected during your monitoring efforts and communicating the information that you obtain to the appropriate audiences.

Finally, you use the results of this analysis to change the project and learn how to do projects better in the future. Based on feedback information, you may want to modify your conceptual model, management plan, or monitoring plan.

Source: Adapted from Margoluis & Salafsky 1998.

Appendix G: Restoration Projects in Progress

Title: Restoration and Reintroduction of Canada Yew to Beaver Island

Objective: Re-establish Canada yew on Beaver Island.

Description: Canada yew is found on all other islands of our archipelago. During the early part of island human habitation, animals were left to forage on trees and shrubs in addition to deer being introduced to Beaver Island. Canada yew is a beautiful small growing shrub that resembles a very short hemlock. It is growing freely on the outer islands and is note worthy. The NRETC is proposing that we work to obtain specimens through the DNRE or Em Griffin on Trout Island. We would identify an appropriate natural community setting and erect a fence for protection and signage to allow visitors to view the yew. CMU and Dan Martell from the BICS could do follow-up site reviews and reporting.

Funding/Resources: Cost of fencing and donated time with retrieval of specimens and on going monitoring. DNRE, CMU, and BICS already have a working relationship.

Time Frame: At least 2 months to obtain necessary DNRE permits for removal and re-introduction of yew. CMU to assist with determination of optimal planting time. ***

Title: Martin’s Bluff Restoration Project

Goal: Enhance access to Lake Michigan and restore the bluff area where human activity has caused erosion to the bluff

Description: Create signage to explain the rational for use of stairway to Lake Michigan. This enhanced access to the shoreline will eliminate the present erosion problem by not having an easy identified walkway.

Funding/Resources Needed: Professional site development from the DNRE. Keith Cheli , from the Parks and Recreation Department of the DNRE and his supervisor to visit BI this spring. Funding for stairway. Volunteers to replant native vegetation and certified native beach grass on bluff.

Time Frame: Future Project ***

Title: Bill Wagner Campground Restoration

Goal: To preserve rare and endangered species from campers and recreational activities. To enhance recreational activities for people of all abilities or limitations. To educate the public about invasive species introduction and control.

Description: Restore this campground site for public recreation. Beaver Island has 43 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, with only one public boat launch ramp at the north end of town. Wagner Campground has a small metal ramp on wheels that is pushed into place every spring for launching a small boat. Individual property owners on the east side launch their boats across dunes due to the lack of an adequate ramp access. We have ecologically sensitive dune areas around the island. On the campground's dunes can be found Pitcher's thistle and Lake Huron tansy. Presently, campers are degrading the dune area with their attempts to make camp fires away from the pine tree camping sites; yet, much of the dune system is still intact. Adequate planning for trails, beach access, fire pits and fire suppression will be required. We need professional assistance to develop an action plan for restoration. We would like the DNRE’s Keith Cheli, on his next visit, to assist in developing this campground site for recreation, protecting sensitive natural area features, educating the public with signage about the significance of coastal wetlands and sensitive dunes, T & E species, and control of invasive species to our inland lakes. The DNRE will assist our community by providing for public handicapped accessible recreation opportunities; and by protecting the island's unique natural resources that people come to enjoy on Beaver Island.

Time Frame: Long Range ***

Title: Conservation Easements/Land Acquisition/Protection of rare natural areas

Not sure we should go here if the LTC might be pursuing various avenues.

Title: Non-Motorized Water trails: To be developed by Ken Bruland.

The NRETC will meet with Keith Cheli for discussion of water trails and primitive camp site identification on State lands.

Title: Handicapped accessible wetland educational walkway

Goal: To provide educational opportunities for the public appreciation of wetlands despite physical limitations. To provide access for public viewing of wood ducks, bitterns, and other wetland wildlife.

Description: Identify wetland site off Kings Highway for development of a walkway and access through the swamp. Provide for interpretive signage and observation area for public education and appreciation of wetland and unique wildlife.

Funding/Resources: Identify area that is unbuildable due to wetland designation. Work with CMU/LTC to secure area and funding.

Time Frame: Long term ***

Title: St. James Township Campground development/restoration

Goal: Long range planning to provide for shoreline access to Lake Michigan. A stairway is needed from bluff to beach. Erosion control on bluff. Potential site planning development for campground.

Description: Site Review with DNRE, Keith Cheli. Develop walkway to Lake Michigan. North shore bluff restoration with certified native beach grass.

Funding/Resources: To be developed

Time Frame: Long Range ***

Title: Universally Accessible Fishing Pier at the old DNR dock

Goal: To provide universally accessible public access to the last remaining publicly held area on Beaver Island harbor.

Description: Development of old DNR dock for public recreational use. Known great fishing area. Last potential site for public development. No public fishing access site in harbor.

Funding/Resources: Dock is held by the DNR and undeveloped. Trust Funding.

Time Frame: Long Term. ***

Title: Inventory organisms on the Island

Resource Management Goal 1: allow for proper management plan that will not preclude one species over another.

Description: Acquire from numerous sources lists of organisms on the Island

Funding/Resources: People to work on lists

Needed: time and people with access to lists

Time Frame: Proposed for completion May, 2010 ***

Title: Inventory habitat types on the Island

Objective: allow for proper management plan that will allow sustainable use of resources.

Description: Acquire from numerous sources lists

Funding/Resources People to work on lists

Needed: time and people with access to lists or pictures

Time Frame: Proposed for completion May, 2010 ***

Title: Comprehensive forest and wildlife management plan for Beaver Island

Goal, Objective: Devise a plan to enhance and sustainably use our resources to promote hunting

and other outdoor activities such as ecotourism

Description: Develop a plan that will meet part or all of the desires for resource use of various interest groups on the Island

Funding/Resources Technical help (from CMU; The Nature Conservancy and others) to develop plan

Needed: Groups to add input for plan

People to help write and edit plan

Funding/Resources Available

Time Frame: End of 2010, after June 28^th Forestry and wildlife symposium ***

Title: Bike rack at most stores and natural/public areas

Objective 1: Promote the use of bikes as a mode of transportation on the Island

Objective 2: Reduce pollution, promote sustainable transportation and good health as well as avoid possible congestion and parking especially at natural areas with small parking lots.

Description: Wooden bike racks can be built and distributed to parks and by stores and restaurants with small signs.

Funding/Resources Wood for bike racks is needed and people to build them.

Needed: Funding or donation of wood and time

Time Frame: Proposed for completion of some bike racks for Summer, 2010. Others to be built as budget allows.

Appendix H: Beaver Island NRETC Round Table Discussion Report

Round Table Discussion Reports from the June 28, 2010 Symposium

Fifty people remained for the round table portion of the program. Six tables of discussion groups presented answers to the italicized questions below. Each table is represented by the same letter in the responses.

1. Plants and animals you most enjoy seeing on Beaver Island:

A. Deer, Grouse, Woodcock and song birds; need to manage habitat for all animals.

B. Plants: showy lady slipper, marsh marigold, thistle, trillium. Animals: deer, hares, beaver. Birds: Loons, snipes, eagles, grouse

C. Plants: pitcher thistle, orchids, trillium, blueberries, Animals: deer, ruffled grouse, turkey beaver, loons, sandhill cranes, beaver, heron

D. Plants: pitchers thistle, lady slippers orchard, dwarf lake iris, trillium, lobe leafed hepatica, apple trees. Animals: loons, eagles, osprey, ruffled grouse, great blue heron, thrush, deer, turkey, chipmunks

E. Plants: birch, hemlock, beech Animal: deer, coyote, beaver, native and migratory birds

F. Plants: showy lady slipper, marsh marigolds, trillium, pitcher thistle Animals: deer, beaver, hare, grouse. Birds: loons, snipes, eagles, piping plover

2. Natural resources which are important to you on Beaver Island:

A. Forests: Aspen / Birch habitat and Oak, hardwood old growths; Need to manage forests as an ecosystem with core, minimally and maximally managed areas.

B. Water access, beaches, forests, trails

C. Water, forest, stars, sand dunes fresh air , ecosystem

D. Water, dunes-open sand, forests, bogs, old field

E. Clean water, wetlands, dunes, beaches, wildlife, mature forests

F. Lakes, beaches, forests, trails

3. Most enjoyed outdoor activities while on Beaver Island:

A. Hunting, fishing, snow shoeing, camping, hiking, birding and mushrooming.

B. hunting, fishing, walking, enjoying beauty

C. Hiking, hunting, wildlife observation, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, biking

D. Hiking, biking, kayaking, hunting, fishing, birding

E. trail use, hunting, fishing, water sports

F. fishing, hunting, hiking, looking-enjoying the beauty

4&6. Most important natural resources to the economy and Quality of Life of Beaver Island:

A. Water quality and habitat and forest ecosystems and preservation, management and use.

B. Beaches and Lakes, Forests, Tails, Atmosphere, Wildlife for hunting, history

C. Clean Air, Water Quality, sense of solitude, low impact living, keeping condition of the island

D. Water, terrestrial habitat diversity, forests

E. clean water, healthy shore line, wildlife exploitation, diverse ecosystem

F. all are important. Harbor, diversity, beaches, hiking history, natural beauty, tranquility, hunting, fishing

5. Potential benefits and disadvantages of having trails designated as ORV / No ORV:

A. There should be both. Some older and disabled folks cannot enjoy the forest without an ORV. Properly used, ORVs are no threat to the environment.

B. Benefits, snowmobiles, access for hunters, handicap exception. Con- no enforcement, damage to ecology

C. Benefit-access, Disadvantage—be on statewide map, inundated with tourist ORV, erosion, lack of enforcement

D. Benefit--Keep ORV’s out of other areas, allows access, bring in more visitors. Disadvantages:

Fragile environment, noise factor, open to more abuse, wildlife—scaring off, destruction, human injury

E. Benefit—easy access for hunters &disabled. Disadvantage—no quiet spots, noise pollution, damage to flora &fauna, pollution

F. Benefit—accessible to hunters, handicapped. Disadvantage: fragile ecology, no enforcement

7. Pro’s and con’s to bringing in mast trees such as hickory, oak and chestnut trees to replace or supplement mast production now that American beech is in decline due to beech bark disease: A. Mast trees are necessary, but planting would be expensive and should be planned carefully.

B. Pro—all wildlife that eat nuts, Con-probably bring some other disease

C. Pro-increase diversity, Con-bring in disease, becomes exotics

D. Pro—supplements wildlife food, increases forest diversity, increased disease resistance

Con—introduction of more disease and invasives, cost factor, maintenance of young trees, inspection of trees

E. Pro-replaces mast lost to beech disease. Con-unknown consequences

F. long term process—food for wildlife, beauty, future benefit. Con-expense, need large trees to avoid browse.

8. Challenges and opportunities to supporting and monitoring the biodiversity of our island's forests.

A.Ecosystem management of all forest habitats is critical to maintaining the character of Beaver Island. Deciding how to designate core, minimally and maximally managed areas as well as what hardwoods to plant will require advice and counsel from a professional forester.

B. warm bodies and agreeing on a plan based on information, solve other problems then hire an administrator

C. need to write specific ways to monitor in master plan, hard work, no formalized monitoring system, opportunity--could have CMU monitor during class trips/ research

D. Challenge: humans, remoteness, limiting non-natives, education about non natives, funding, monitoring transfer of invasives, who is in charge, local, state, fed?, building consensus

Opportunity: remoteness, monitoring by volunteers, education, increase, maintain habitat diversity

E. Challenges: both state and private ownership, time resources & expertise to monitor, Opportunity: controlled environment, possible to keep invasives in check, seen as a model

F. Effort—warm bodies, agreeing on a plan, dollars

9. What are potential benefits and disadvantages to having areas remain wild core areas:

A. See 8 above

B. a comparison to managed areas

C. no disadvantage, advantage-wildness

D. benefits-gene pool, self-replicating species, beauty, cheap, doesn’t cost $

Disadvantage, diversity decreases, diseases destroy loss of certain species, less healthy, increased fire danger