Foresight for the Forests

The conifer forests and associated wetlands now protected at Mulligan Pines Preserve.

The expansion of  UPLC’s recently protected Mulligan Pines Preserve builds upon the legacy of Fred Prince, whose generous land donation to UPLC in 2015 laid the groundwork for this conservation achievement. 

Gap in the canopy resulting from selective harvest at one of UPLC's Forest for the Future reserves.

Fred – a lifelong outdoorsman and conservationist committed to reforestation – purchased and held several properties containing degraded and regenerating timberlands through Forests for the Future, his nonprofit dedicated to practicing sustainable forestry and sharing those practices through public education. When he died in 2015, he left UPLC a number of these properties.  His donation inspired and made our own Forest for the Future program possible, focused on nurturing forest health, biodiversity, and resiliency through sustainable forestry practices. Importantly, Fred specified that his donation be unrestricted so UPLC could best leverage these properties to further its mission of conserving critical forest lands for the Upper Peninsula community.

UPLC typically holds conserved lands in perpetuity, but Fred’s foresight allowed UPLC the flexibility - when appropriate– to consider a range of tools, including land sales, transfers, or trade land with committed partners.  

In evaluating Fred’s donated properties, UPLC’s staff and Board of Directors assess each parcel according to current Land Trust Accreditation standards including conservation value, stewardship capacity, legal obligations, and landscape connectivity. Through this process, UPLC may determine that retaining a property, or alternatively selling or trading it, best advances long-term conservation goals, particularly when it contributes to contiguous protections of ecologically significant landscapes.

From these lands gifted by Fred, UPLC identified a property that was well suited for an acre-for-acre exchange with Lyme Great Lakes Timberlands in the case of our recent expansion of the Mulligan Pines Preserve. The trade utilized parcels adjacent to each group’s existing landholdings, allowing UPLC to double the size of Mulligan Pines Preserve from forty to eighty contiguous acres. This expansion permanently protected connected wetlands, old-growth forest, and vital wildlife habitat, while complementing Jon and Christine Saari’s generous donation of their forty acres.

The collaboration was guided by a shared commitment to maximize conservation impact and strengthen contiguous protected landscapes. The success of this exchange has encouraged UPLC to continue exploring how similar tools, when used thoughtfully and selectively, can directly support future land acquisitions, expansions, and conservation priorities.

This expanded and connected landscape honors Fred’s vision for meaningful conservation, protecting a biologically diverse property that is valuable for educating people about our region’s unique ecosystem. Many people involved with UPLC knew Fred and believe he would be proud of how we have built upon his lifelong work and conservation legacy. We are honored to carry his name forward through this project. 

Christine Saari, Jon Saari, and Jeanne Sekely (NCT Volunteer) exploring the expanded wetlands now protected at Mulligan Pines Preserve.