[highland-conservancy]Highland Conservancy in Milford Times today

[highland-conservancy at hyrule.one-point.com]

Highland Conservancy works to keep township green
By Alyson Iott 
STAFF WRITER 

For the many residents who hope to see Highland stay green and rural, the Highland Conservancy offers guidance and a helping hand. 
The conservancy is an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit group dedicated to conserving land for both residents and local wildlife to enjoy.
"The main thing that we're trying to do is preserve the rural character of Highland Township," said Dave Pollard, Highland Conservancy vice-president. 
The Highland Conservancy was founded in 2004 by Highland Township Supervisor Triscia Pilchowski. Pilchowski said she founded the group in response to residents' wishes to preserve the township's public parks and other green spaces. Surveys issued by the planning department in 1998 and 2005 confirmed that land conservation topped residents' list of priorities. One of the group's primary goals is to increase conserved land. Conservancy members were instrumental in creating Highland Oaks Park, the Huron Valley's first county park, which is now in the final stages of purchase. In 2007, Pollard said, the group is stepping up efforts to promote conservation easements, which conserve all or part of a property by perpetually restricting its development. Until Dec. 31, the Internal Revenue Service is offering greater-than-normal tax incentives for these easements. Once land is conserved, the conservancy may act as a steward, checking the land to make sure its natural resources and conservation value are maintained. Stewards, which may be land conservancies or local government bodies, do not acquire any development or ownership rights. The land does not become public. The group also represents conservation interests during planning commission meetings. One or more members attend every meeting, acting as the conservancy's voice during development decisions. This watchdog role is one of the group's most important functions, Pilchowski said. "This is time-consuming, this is demanding, and these folks see the value of that and commit themselves to being there," she said. Most recently, Pollard said, the conservancy has focused on developing a green infrastructure plan for Highland Township. The group is working with other township and county groups, including the Highland Downtown Development Authority and the Highland Business Association, to create a map outlining and linking natural areas that are especially important for conservation. The plan will give the planning commission a guideline for conservation-friendly planning and development, Pollard said. Conservancy members can also use the information to target specific areas for conservation efforts. If maintained, the green infrastructure will help create corridors for wildlife and conserve natural environments such as prairie, wetlands, woods and meadows. The conservancy and other groups hope to finalize the plans in April, Pollard said. Besides its township presence, the conservancy stays involved in the community by hosting seminars and getting involved in activities such as the Hi-White Parade in May, where members will hand out 500 pine seedlings. The group has about 45 members, with a core team of eight to 10 volunteers. Its current president is Jim Lloyd. To learn more or to volunteer, visit online at www.highlandconservancy.org or stop by the group's regular meeting, held at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month in the Highland Station House. Alyson Iott is a reporter for the Milford Times. She can be reached at (248) 685-1507, ext. 21, or by e-mail at aiott at gannett.com. 

For the rest of this article, please click on: http://www.hometownlife.com
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