Section 5: Recommended Governance Structure of the Blueprint for the Keweenaw Heartlands - Available for Review

The Nature Conservancy invites and encourages the public to provide feedback on the draft of “Section 5: Recommended Governance Structure” of the Blueprint for the Keweenaw Heartlands, which is now available online. Please send your input via email to keweenaw@tnc.org.

Section 5 documents the recommended features of a Keweenaw Heartlands governance structure, outlining the roles and capabilities of a unique, local-level governing entity for this forestland. Section 5 also details a stakeholder committee and a government relations committee, each of which would serve in an advisory capacity to the local governing entity.

The community member input we receive will inform the revision of Section 5 before it is included in the final, published Blueprint for the Keweenaw Heartlands, scheduled for completion later this year.

Over the past few months, TNC has also shared Sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Blueprint for public review.

•  Section 1 documents the process that ultimately led to the acquisition of these lands for the benefit of the Keweenaw’s people, environment, and economy, and provides context for the sustainable public management of the forest in perpetuity.

• Section 2 summarizes the highly participatory planning process used by Rural Economic Success, LLC (RES) in the development of this Blueprint, including the formation of the planning committee and the steps taken to engage the public and solicit input.

• Section 3 discusses community-determined principles and values for long-term management of the Heartlands forests.

• Section 4 offers a recommended structure for community involvement in decision-making and governance of the land long-term, including potential next steps for the transition of the land from TNC into public ownership.

Review past sections here.