THREE RIVERS, Mich. — A public meeting will be Tuesday evening, Jan. 27, at the YMCA’s Camp Eberhart to discuss the creation of a conservation plan for the wild and natural areas surrounding the Crane Pond and Three Rivers State Game Areas.

Together, these areas are known as the Jones State Game Area, after the nearby village of Jones. A team of regional stakeholders, including landowners and natural resource professionals, is steering the conservation plan to “connect and protect” the steeply rolling terrain of “wildlands” that give the eastern Cass County/western St. Joseph region its character.

The effort is being led by the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy (SWMLC), a regional non-profit land trust that specializes in helping private landowners protect scenic and ecologically important landscapes.

“The greater Jones area and its associated state game areas are a special regional asset for wildlife and recreation,” said Geoffrey Cripe, SWMLC director of land protection. “The purpose of developing a conservation plan is to better understand local conservation priorities in the region, look for opportunities to increase wildlife habitat by expanding the State Game Areas and creating connections, and doing so in a manner that recognizes regional agricultural productivity with many growing opportunities for outdoor recreation.”

The Jones State Game Area covers approximately 6,300 undeveloped acres, protecting important places for sport-hunting and fishing. More recently, passive outdoor recreation such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, bird-watching, mushroom-picking, hiking, and mountain biking have also become popular, bringing more visitors to the region and creating the potential for an agri-tourism/eco-tourism industry.

“The region contains dozens of lakes and headwater streams that recharge the regional aquifer and support wildlife, area farmers, and other human and natural needs. SWMLC recognizes the importance of a strategic plan to ensure this area remains a reliable resource over time,” said Cripe. “In large part, this plan will explore opportunities to connect the scattered game areas where possible or protect surrounding areas through compatible private conservation agreements or programs.”

The meeting will include a brief history and other information about the Crane Pond and Three Rivers State Game Areas, a discussion of opportunities and threats identified by the project team, the results of a geographic prioritization exercise, and opportunities for private landowners to get involved. “The meeting will be informational but with opportunities for input from people who live in and care about the region,” said Cripe. “In addition to direct wildlife benefits, we believe the creation of a conservation plan will benefit the communities of people and businesses that call this region home.”

The meeting will be held in Klinger Hall at the YMCA’s Camp Eberhart on Corey Lake, 10841 Camp Eberhart Road, Three Rivers, on Tuesday, Jan. 27, from 7-8:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. For more information and directions to Camp Eberhart, please visit www.swmlc.org or call Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy at (269) 324-1600.