Barry Lonik has led the effort to establish the model farmland and natural area protection programs in Washtenaw County for nearly 30 years, some of the most successful in Michigan. Barry started the Legacy Land Conservancy and served as its first executive director for six and a half years, developing it into an effective nonprofit organization.

He has been involved with ten ballot campaigns—nine of which won—that will raise almost $200 million of public funds for the acquisition of land and conservation easements. He is currently president of Treemore Ecology and Land Services, Inc., consulting with nonprofits, local governments, private landowners and conservation buyers toward the protection of natural and agricultural lands.

Through Barry’s direct involvement, nearly 8,000 acres of land have been permanently protected in and around Washtenaw County, and he has attracted over $16 million of state and federal matching grants for farmland protection.

Resources:
Ann Arbor Greenbelt Millage

Township land preservation programs:
Webster Twp. Farmland and Open Space Board
Ann Arbor Charter Twp. Farmland and Open Space Board
Ann Arbor Twp. Protected Properties Map
Scio Twp. Land Preservation Commission

Purchase of Development Rights:
Preserving Farmland and Open Space