Great Lakes Echo (https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/capital-news-service/page/38/)
More than 100 Michigan communities have been honored under the Tree City USA program that promotes the economic, health and aesthetic benefits of trees on public property.
Michigan cities that won the designation include: Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Allegan, Brighton, Charlevoix, Big Rapids, Ionia and Rockford.
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality is awarding almost $300,000 in its latest round of grants to counties and businesses to clean up 17 scrap tire sites and hold community events where people can bring tires for disposal.
By YANAN CHEN
LANSING– Several Michigan colleges and universities have made a national list of 311 green campuses. The list includes Grand Valley State University, Western Michigan University, Aquinas College, University of Michigan and Kalamazoo College. And according to the guide, when students chose colleges or universities, they look not only into academic levels but also consider whether the schools are committed to going green. The roster was compiled by Princeton Review, an American-based standardized test preparation and admissions consulting company. The guide was based on factors such as whether students have a campus quality of life that is healthy and sustainable, how well a school is preparing students for employment in the economy and how environmentally responsible a school’s policies are.
Lack of funding for dam repair or removal is an increasing concern as many across the state approach the end of their design life.
Built to last 50 years, more than 90 percent of the Michigan’s 2,580 dams will have exceeded that lifespan in the next few years.
Two nature restoration projects in Southwest Michigan are rejuvenating wetland habitats as a hospitable home for endangered species, including one of the world’s rarest butterflies.
State agencies are striving to prepare Michigan’s recreational areas for the upcoming summer.
Preserving historic barns does more than maintain the beauty of the state’s rural landscape – it has economic benefits as well, preservation experts say.
It often creates new businesses, agritourism destinations and jobs.
Michigan’s 2.7 million acres of national forest produce enough lumber each year to build around 18,000 average-sized houses and provide habitat to endangered species such as the bald eagle and osprey.
Michigan has five operating ethanol plants and two under construction.
But just what proportion of the state’s corn should be used to make ethanol?
Corn growers insist that criticism that biofuels will increase food prices is misplaced.
Michigan’s travel agency is pushing the state’s natural resources in a bid for tourists.
Efforts are also underway to promote agri-tourism, including the use of mobile phone applications that direct tourists to markets.