AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
Harper Preserve Boundary

The University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) currently owns 1,761 acres across six properties in Southeastern Michigan, including Saginaw Forest, Stinchfield Woods, Newcomb Tract, St. Pierre Wetland, Harper Preserve, and Ringwood Forest. These natural areas accompany various satellite properties owned or managed by other University departments, existing as part of a broad patchwork of preserved property across the state of Michigan. The diverse array of habitats across the sites and vast networks of local and regional stakeholders present a unique opportunity to reexamine the goals and management plans for these properties, and to further demonstrate the University’s commitment to land preservation, sustainable stewardship, and carbon neutrality. With these goals in mind, our team utilized several interdisciplinary research methods during the course of this project, largely consisting of carbon sequestration and storage analyses, remote sensing and GIS, and social research considerations. Over the past year, these approaches were used to arrive at holistic, concrete recommendations for both current and future property uses and considerations, which will lay the groundwork for forthcoming SEAS masters projects at each specific property. Our results point towards a wealth of new management and utilization objectives, including carbon neutrality and pricing, stewardship program initiatives, joint management models with land conservancies, and expanded opportunities for engagement with U-M faculty and students, local and regional institutions and organizations, and the general public.
Ringwood Forest Boundary

Ringwood Forest was originally part of the great pine forests of Michigan. The pines were logged on this site in 1862 by Eleazer Ring. Fires followed the logging and most of the land remained open for farming after the fires. In 1883 red and white pine were planted on the south side of the Bad River and a Norway spruce alley near the entrance to the property. In 1920 the Ford Motor Company purchased the hardwoods and clear-cut the timber. The land was presented to the University of Michigan in 1930 by Clark Ring for use related to forestry research, demonstration, and education. From 1930-1941, SNRE conducted an extensive planting program on the property which consisted of primarily pine. Fire lanes were also developed. From 1930-1950 several timber sales took place. Since the mid 1950’s management of this site has been less extensive. In 1983 the University of Michigan entered into an agreement with Saginaw County Parks and Recreation Commission that allowed Ringwood Forest to be used by the Commission for public forestry education and recreation. The park opened to the public in 1987.