The Legacy and Future of Preservation
Fifty-four years ago, in 1970, the Estivant Pines were falling to the logger.
The Keweenaw Traveler is celebrating its 34 years of promoting Keweenaw tourism. As the publisher of the number one guide to adventure in this para- dise of natural and cultural beauty, I get nostalgic, as these anniversaries pile up.
Fifty-four years ago, in 1970, the Estivant Pines were falling to the logger. A Keweenaw native, Lauri Leskinen, stood up and said “Ain’t it a shame,” the oldest living thing in the Keweenaw, (400 years), is going down. A meet- ing was called, 17 citizens stepped up and partnered with the little Michigan Nature Association, photos of the falling pines hit the metro papers, and the fight to stop the cutting began. Three years later we preserved the first grove on 200 acres, paid for from hundreds of small donations from all over Michigan.
It was the first such conservation effort in the Keweenaw. There were no nature conservancies then, now we have eight. It was the hallmark event that showed the people that we had to step up and preserve the natural beauty or lose it to outside corporations interested in return on investment only.
Today the 517-acre Estivant Pines Wilderness Sanctuary, owned and cared for by the Michigan Nature Association, is one of the top five attrac- tions for visitors in the Keweenaw. All the remaining ancient monarch east- ern white pine are preserved in this tract, a Keweenaw treasure.
Major trail improvements were made last year in celebration of the 50th year of that landmark purchase. With visitation increasing it is important that we continue to protect this precious remnant. Further preservation in the Keweenaw continues today. The Nature Conservancy (TNC), has deter- mined the Keweenaw corporate-owned lands to be of global importance and has purchased over 37,000 acres to preserve and provide a resource for future recreational development. Of this acreage, called Keweenaw Heart- lands, over 8,000 acres will be purchased by the state of Michigan. It’s a huge step to preserve and grow our tourism economy. This will allow us to sustainablely handle the growing numbers of visitors in the future, that are hungry for adventure in our Keweenaw. It’s five decades of effort started by 17 citizens who raised their hands back in 1970.