Michigan State University
Campus Natural Areas
Michigan State University is endowed with a diversity of woodlands and
wetlands located on the campus properties. These
invaluable natural resources include more than 700 acres in 27 distinct
sites. They provide important examples for our rich natural heritage and
represent significant, accessible resources for teaching, research, demonstration
and nature appreciation. The stewardship of these natural areas
falls under the Campus Natural Areas Committee, an advisory group of
faculty and staff representing the multidisciplinary interests and expertise
in natural science and resource management. The various university units
responsible for these areas include the Division of Campus Park and
Planning, the Department of Forestry, and the Office of Land Management.
The Curator of the W.J. Beal Botanical Garden and Campus Woody Plant
Collection serves as the committee secretary.
The stewardship plan is based on a system of designation of natural
areas into three levels of protection and academic use. High-quality
natural areas are afforded maximum protection, while other sites are
available for experimentation and demonstration.
All use of the campus natural areas is coordinated and approved through
the Office of Land Management. Request forms
are available from the Office of Land Management and must be submitted
to the Director, Office of Land Management, 109 Agriculture Hall, telephone
355-3272. Unauthorized use of these areas may conflict with other approved
activities and compromise their value for academic study.
Academic Use of University Natural and Undeveloped Areas of Scientific
Interest
Scientific study in campus natural areas is encouraged by the Campus Natural
Areas Committee (CNAC). However, scientific collecting or manipulation
of species or their environment as part of a study must not inflict substantial
or permanent damage to a natural area. This would reduce the value of
the area to future studies and be contrary to the goals of the CNAC. The
following guidelines have been adopted to guide research, teaching, demonstration,
and nature appreciation in campus natural areas, according to the category
of natural area designated by the CNAC. In no case shall endangered,
threatened or special concern species be taken, nor shall any species
be taken without proper, current, State and Federal permits, as required
by law. Use of firearms on campus is prohibited. Pedestrian travel shall
be the only allowable mode of transport in any campus natural area.
Applications for scientific collecting, class use and other activities
with potential for environmental impact in Natural Areas shall be reviewed
on a case by case basis by the CNAC, or its designee. Any research or
instructional materials left on a site that are related to unauthorized
activities will be removed without notice.
Campus Natural Areas
University natural and undeveloped areas have been classified into the
three following categories of protection and academic use based on their
overall quality and their potential for sustained use.
| Category
I Areas: |
Natural areas managed at the
highest level of protection and lowest level of usage. |
| Category
II Areas: |
High quality undeveloped areas;
only limited impact allowed for research, teaching, demonstration
and nature study. |
| Category
III Areas: |
Undeveloped area of scientific
value; limited manipulation for research and demonstration may be
allowed. |
Alphabetic list of the Campus Natural Areas.
Map of the Campus Natural Areas.
All use of campus natural and undeveloped areas must be approved through
the Office of Land Management. Request forms
are available from the Office of Land Management and must be submitted
to the Director, Office of Land Management, 109 Agriculture Hall, telephone
355-3272. |