MiSustainable Holland: Herrick District Library event celebrates Great Lakes

Andrea Goodell
·2 min read

HOLLAND — Michigan is the Great Lakes State. The shores of Michigan touch four out of five of the Great Lakes, the world’s largest freshwater system. Nowhere should water quality be more important than here.

To recognize that importance, Herrick District Library will host a Nature Conservancy program focused on the natural treasure of the Great Lakes, and on the conservancy’s part in preserving this treasure. The event will be from 7-8:30 p.m. Monday, May 1, at the main library’s Hazel B. Hayes Auditorium.

Herrick District Library will host a presentation about The Nature Conservancy and the Great Lakes on Monday, May 1.
Herrick District Library will host a presentation about The Nature Conservancy and the Great Lakes on Monday, May 1.

The Nature Conservancy is a worldwide environmental organization that partners with local land trusts, indigenous communities, private sector businesses and donors to conserve resilient and connected lands that will preserve biodiversity and help to mitigate impacts of climate change.

It has branches in 79 countries and territories, as well as across every state in the U.S. For decades, The Nature Conservancy in Michigan has worked with the people of the Great Lakes State to protect the rivers, lakes and lands that are its natural heritage.

At the May 1 program, attendees will discover how The Nature Conservancy is building a future where both people and nature can thrive — from restoring native fish habitats and addressing aquatic invasive species to protecting iconic forests in the Upper Peninsula.

Rich Bowman, director of policy at The Nature Conservancy Michigan, will give the presentation. Bowman manages projects related to increased public funding for conservation, including funding for land protection and management, water infrastructure and conservation incentives for working lands. He also manages projects related to changes in state policy that result in increased land and water conservation.

Rich Bowman, director of policy at The Nature Conservancy Michigan, will talk May 1 at Herrick District Library.
Rich Bowman, director of policy at The Nature Conservancy Michigan, will talk May 1 at Herrick District Library.

The nonprofit has several goals through 2030, including tackling climate change, protecting ocean, land and fresh water and providing food and water sustainability as the world’s population grows.

Herrick District Library offers programs for all ages at no cost. It's also partnering with the Ottawa County Parks Department to bring StoryWalks to the public.

At a StoryWalk, anyone can walk through the pages of a picture book as they make their way along a park path. The self-guided programs are available from dawn to dusk.

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Here are upcoming StoryWalks:

  • “Seeds Move!” by Robin Page at Paw Paw Park East, 1230 Paw Paw Drive, May 1-14.

  • “You Are Here” by Zach Manbeck at Hemlock Crossing, 8115 W. Olive Road, May 15-28.

  • “Over in the Forest” by Marianne Berkes at Hawthorn Pond, 9876 Black River Court, May 29-June 11.

Herrick District Library Main is located at 300 S. River Ave. Learn more at herrickdl.org/events.

— Andrea Goodell is the community relations associate at Herrick District Library.

About This Series:MiSustainable Holland is a collection of community voices sharing updates about local sustainability initiatives.This Week’s Sustainability Framework Theme: Community Knowledge: The collective knowledge and energy of the community is an incredible resource that must be channeled to where it is needed.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: MiSustainable Holland: Herrick Library event celebrates Great Lakes