Second Annual Summit

Taking the Land Conservation Message to the People of Michigan

Survey Results

Rachel Kuntzsch, Acting Executive DirectorHeart of the Lakes Center for Land Conservation Policy

Conservation SummitFebruary 7, 2007

Who We Are

• A voice and convener for the common interests of Michigan’s outstanding private land conservancies

• A nonprofit organization established in 2004 to educate policymakers and the public on the conservation and promotion of Michigan’s world-class natural resources

• A source of independent research, analysis, new ideas and communications on Michigan’s biggest long-term conservation challenges

• An educator on Michigan’s proud land conservation history and future

Our Members

• Chikaming Open Lands• Chippewa Watershed

Conservancy• Grand Traverse Regional Land

Conservancy• Grass River Natural Area• Great Lakes Bioregional Land

Conservancy• Headwaters Land Conservancy• Land Conservancy of West

Michigan• Land Trust Alliance• LandChoices• Leelanau Conservancy• Little Forks Conservancy• Little Traverse Conservancy• Macomb Land Conservancy

• Michigan Karst Conservancy• Michigan Natural Areas Council• Michigan Nature Association• North Oakland Headwaters Land

Conservancy• Oakland Land Conservancy• Raisin Valley Land Trust• Saginaw Basin Land Trust• Southwest Michigan Land

Conservancy• Sporting Lands Alliance• The Conservation Fund• The Nature Conservancy in

Michigan• Washtenaw Land Trust• Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve

Communications Plan

• Conservation heritage at risk due to de-funding and public disengagement

• Public polling consistently shows support for natural resource protection

• Public education needed to increase awareness and grow support

• Heart of the Lakes launching strategy starting with public survey

Public Survey

Purpose: To measure public knowledge of and support for funding Michigan’s natural resources.

Conducted by EPIC MRA 600 respondents, broad geographic and

demographic base Margin of error (+/- ) 4%

State Programs: Respondent Priority Rankings

1. Economic development, job programs and business initiatives and incentives: 59%

2. Education, including local public schools and colleges: 58%

3. Social and human service programs, like public health, Medicaid and mental health: 37%

4. Preservation of public and recreational lands and waters: 24%

5. Corrections, prisons and state police: 20% State highways, roads and bridges: 18%

Importance for state government to provide adequate funding to preserve Michigan’s waters and recreational spaces such as parks, beaches, and forests

Very/Somewhat Important: 72%

Funding Support for Natural Resources

Sell Public Land?

• 74%: We must do everything possible to protect recreational spaces, waters and public lands in Michigan and not consider selling public lands to balance the budget.

• 23%: We should do everything we can to balance the state budget in Michigan even if that means selling some of our public lands, parks and water resources.

Funding Options

47%

20%

7%

17%

4%5% User Fee

Increases

Tax/Fee for AllCitizens

Sell Land/Parks

Oppose tax/feeincrease & sale

Combo Options

Undecided

Funding Perceptions

Respondents were asked what percentage of the state budget they think is currently spent in addition to user fees to preserve Michigan’s waters and recreational spaces, such as parks, beaches and forests.

Average response: 11%

Funding Expectations

Respondents were told the actual percentage is less than 1% and asked where this aligned with their expectations:

2% More than expected

73% Less than expected

23% About what was expected

2% Undecided/Don’t know

Outdoor Activities

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Hunting or

fishing

Camping Hiking, biking,

birding

Water

rec reational

ac tivities

% Partic ipated in activityduring last 12 months

Information Sources

Top Sources of most information on Michigan’s recreational opportunities:

1. Newspaper (15%)

2. Word-of-mouth (13%)

3. Op/eds – newspapers and mags (9%)

4. TV ads (7%)

5. Internet (6%)

6. TV educational programs (5%)

Complete results will be

posted on our website

www.heartofthelakes.org

Questions?

Thank you