Formed in 2006, the West Michigan Cluster of the Stewardship Network is a sustainable and effective collaboration of environmental groups, educational institutions, governmental organizations, and private citizens working to conserve and enhance our natural communities through ecosystem restoration and public education. To achieve this goal, the WMC has implemented a vision for regional conservation utilizing the following strategies: Maintaining and/or improving the health and resilience of natural communities by implementing and facilitating ecosystem restoration, utilizing invasive species management and other complementary approaches; Increasing public environmental understanding to encourage shared value for vibrant, functional ecosystems as well as driving engagement to assist in protecting those values; Supporting sustainable organizational structure and function through targeted outreach, effective partnership engagement, and efficient resource and data management.
The Stewardship Network, The West Michigan Cluster covers Allegan, Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, and Ottawa Counties.
Partners
Ada Township Parks and Recreation Allegan Conservation District Aquinas College-Biology Department Black River Habitats Blandford Nature Center Calvin College Ecosystem Preserve Calvin College Plaster Creek Stewards
Cardno/JFNew Cascade Township City of Ferrysburg
Enchanted Gardener
Fen View Design, LLC Friends of Grand Rapids Parks Gaines Township GEI Consultants of Michigan, PC Grand Valley State University Groundswell Gun Lake Tribe
Howard Christensen Nature Center Izaak Walton League - Dwight Lydell Chapter Kent Conservation District Kent County Parks Kitchel-Lindquist-Hartger Dune Preserve
Land Conservancy of West Michigan Mecosta Conservation District Michigan DNR - State Parks
Michigan Garden Clubs Michigan Nature Assocation Muskegon Conservation District Muskegon Watershed Assembly
NIPP-Newaygo Invasive Plant project North Country Trail Association Oceana Conservation District Ottawa Conservation District Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Commission Rogue River Watershed Partners
The Nature Conservancy in Michigan US Forest Service - Baldwin Ranger Station West Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative West Michigan Regional Shoreline Development Commission
Wild Ones - River City Grand Rapids Chapter Wittenbach/Wege Agriscience & Environmental Education Center