United States Department of 

Agriculture

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and 

employer.

Contact Information

Supervisor’s Office

Phone: (231) 775 - 2421

TTY: 771+Phone #

Toll Free: 1-800-821-6263

Website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/hmnf/ 

Email: r9_hmnf_website@fs.fed.us

Baldwin Ranger Station

Phone: (231) 745 - 4631 

TTY: 771+Phone #

Pollinators

Reversing the Loss of

Huron-Manistee National Forests

Karner Blue Butterfly

Aphrodite

Honey Bee

Forest Service

Non-Discrimination Policy

Pollinators have been on the decline globally, 

as well as on the Huron-Manistee National 

Forests, due to habitat loss. Over the past 

century, savannas and other open areas 

have been replaced by mature forests, due 

to reforestation and fire suppression efforts. 

Loss of savannas and open areas means 

a loss of the flowering nectar plants that 

pollinating species depend on. What open 

habitat remains is often too isolated for 

pollinators to successfully reproduce.

Prickly Pear

Pollinator Decline

Habitat with Lupine

Endangered and Threatened 

Species Recovery

The Baldwin/White Cloud Ranger District 

is working to prevent the extinction of 

the federally listed endangered Karner 

blue butterfly (KBB) by restoring and 

maintaining 20,300 acres of savanna within 

four designated KBB meta-population 

areas over the next 50 years. The District’s 

restoration efforts also benefit other 

Endangered, Threatened or Sensitive Species 

(ETS) pollinator species such as dusted 

skipper, Persius duskywing, frosted elfin, 

ottoe skipper, sprague’s pygarctia, and rare 

savanna plants such as Hill’s thistle and 

prairie smoke. 
•	 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

•	 The Pollinator Partnership

•	 Michigan Department of Natural 

Resources

•	 Michigan Entomological Society

•	 The Nature Conservancy

•	 Michigan Wildlife Conservancy

•	 Land Conservancy of West Michigan

•	 Garden Clubs of Michigan

•	 Michigan State University

•	 Ferris State University

•	 Grand Valley State University

•	 Central Michigan University

•	 Wayne State University

•	 Michigan Conservation Foundation

•	 Little River Band of Ottawa Indians

•	 Pine River Audobon Society

•	 9 area middle and senior high schools

•	 Over 5,000 volunteer hours donated 

since 2007 by people across Michigan

Savanna creation prescribed fire

Savanna Restoration

To reverse the decline in rare savanna 

species, including the KBB, the District 

has dramatically increased it’s restoration 

efforts. 

Since 2006, there has been an 8-fold increase 

in management activities, such as: hand 

cutting, prescribed burning, mechanical 

removal of vegetation, seeding/planting, 

and road closures within the four KBB metapopulation areas.

Our objective in these restoration treatments 

is to reduce tree and shrub density, protect 

savanna remnants, and promote the growth 

of native grasses and nectar plant species, 

especially wild lupine- the sole food for the 

KBB caterpillar. 

To reach the Forest’s goal of restoring 

20,300 acres of savanna, the District plans 

to increase its restoration activities to a 

minimum of 400 acres per year. The District 

also has increased its KBB monitoring effort 

by 3-fold since 2006. 

The District annual monitors the status of 

the KBB to determine how far populations 

have progressed toward recovery goals, and 

to evaluate the effectiveness of different 

management strategies for restoring 

savanna. 

The dramatic increase in the District’s 

monitoring effort was possible due 

to volunteer participation. Volunteer 

participation has been a key factor in 

successful restoration efforts. Since 2009, 

volunteers have helped with seeding, 

planting, weeding, and seed collection 

activities, improving over 65 acres of savanna 

habitat. 

Pollinators have co-evolved with plants in 

their locale. Many pollinators have distinct 

biochemical needs for specific plants. Decline 

of native nectar or other food species is a 

major factor in pollinator decline. To address 

this, the District collects native seed on the 

District and at the pollinator gardens for use 

in pollinator habitat restoration. Since 2012 

over 20 lbs of seed have been collected. 

Native Plant Materials

Pollinator Gardens

Pollinator gardens are located at several 

sites on the Baldwin/White Cloud District. 

These gardens serve as pollinator habitats, 

sources of native plant seed for restoration 

on the District, and as educational sites for 

the public. Signage is present at several of the 

sites. 

Our Pollinator Program is possible due to 

the dedicated partnerships and volunteers 

who work with us in our efforts. Between 

2007 and 2012, individuals from 34 partner 

organizations contributed 1,445 volunteer 

days, or over 5,000 hours of time, valued at 

$183,800. 

Volunteers and Partners

M-20 Motorsport Trailhead Pollinator Garden

Our Volunteers and Partners

Butterfly Weed