Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stewardship at Michigan State University
Across our 5,200-acre campus and beyond, we are committed to maintaining, protecting, and expanding the rich variety of ecosystems and species that call our lands home. Through research, education, outreach and hands-on stewardship, MSU works every day to ensure that natural habitats thrive for generations to come.
Protecting ecosystems under threat locally and globally
Related Policies and Frameworks
Biodiversity protection at MSU is supported by a set of university-wide and site-specific plans that promote land use stewardship practices, habitat restoration and the conservation of native species.
- MSU Facilities and Land-Use Plan
Recognizes natural areas and other green space as protected land uses. Promotes connectivity of green space to enhance habitat for pollinators and wildlife. - Tree Management Plan
Documents the requirements to maintain a healthy urban forest and preserve the campus arboretum for future generations. Includes a tree replacement policy and safeguards for IUCN listed tree species. - Campus Natural Areas General Guidelines
Documents the allowed activities and uses of MSU’s Campus Natural Areas, which are managed to optimize instructional and research value, while safeguarding high quality habitats and sensitive species and maintaining high levels of biodiversity. - Invasive Species Policy
Guides plant management to protect native ecosystems at Beal Botanical Garden. Prohibits the cultivation of species listed as invasive in Michigan and commits to active monitoring and removal of ecological threats.
Impact on Campus
Campus Natural Areas: MSU has a diversity of woodlands and wetlands, totaling more than 700 acres across 25 distinct sites, that provide unique opportunities for teaching, research, outreach and nature appreciation. Baker Woodlot is the largest campus natural area and was inducted into the Old Growth Forest Network in 2023. The natural areas are home to hundreds of diverse species. For example, the Bear Lake Natural Area spans six vegetational zones and has over 160 recorded plant species. MSU Herbarium staff have surveyed the natural areas for occurrences of rare plants. The Campus Natural Areas Classroom, Curriculum and Conservation Committee (CNA3C) oversees stewardship of the campus natural areas.
Campus Arboretum: The entire East Lansing campus is an arboretum, home to more than 20,000 trees, representing diverse species and ages. Trees records and locations are available via the campus tree map.
W. J. Beal Botanical Garden: Beal Garden is one of the oldest continuously operated university botanical gardens in the United States. Supporting biodiversity conservation and environmental sustainability is a key pillar of the garden’s strategic plan.
Pollinator Habitat: MSU continues to expand the number of pollinator gardens on campus, which provide nectar and nesting habitat for bees, butterflies, and other essential pollinators, helping to strengthen ecosystem resilience. MSU has been an affiliate of Bee Campus USA since 2021.
Red Cedar River: Roughly 3 miles of the Red Cedar River flow through Michigan State University's campus, providing habitat for a variety of fish and wildlife. MSU is engaged in ongoing riverbank restoration efforts, including removing invasive species like buckthorn, planting native vegetation, and implementing erosion control measures.
Impact in Michigan
Research
- Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI): a leading program for collecting and analyzing data on Michigan’s rare species, natural communities, and critical habitats. Part of MSU Extension, its mission is to “guide the conservation of Michigan's biodiversity by providing the highest quality scientific expertise and information.” MNFI’s work directly supports land managers, conservation organizations, and policy-makers in protecting Michigan’s native biodiversity and ecosystems.
- Pollinator Performance Center: serves as a hub for pollinator research and outreach. Around 15 acres of field plots lie adjacent to classrooms and labs to study honeybees, native pollinators and their interactions with landscapes. The center plays a significant role in outreach and education efforts to protect pollinators across the state.
- Michigan Conservation Stewards Program, offered by MSU Extension, trains adults in science-based ecosystem management and community conservation. Participants learn about Michigan’s forests, wetlands, and aquatic systems through online lessons, local field trips, and a hands-on capstone project. The program builds a network of volunteer stewards who apply their skills to habitat restoration, citizen science, and sustainable land use.
- The MSU Extension Master Gardener Program combines horticulture education with volunteer service. Participants complete a structured training course and contribute community service hours to earn certification. Volunteers use research-based gardening practices to support pollinator health, improve food security, and enhance local landscapes, helping communities grow more sustainably.
- Eyes on the Forest is an MSU Extension citizen science program that engages volunteers to monitor tree health and detect invasive forest pests across the state. Participants learn to identify forest stressors and submit data to support statewide monitoring. The program helps protect Michigan’s forests by connecting public involvement with professional forest management.
- The Michigan Lake and Stream Leaders Institute, coordinated by MSU Extension, trains individuals to protect and manage Michigan’s lakes and streams. Through workshops and field sessions, participants learn about aquatic ecology, water quality, and leadership. Graduates use these skills to guide local conservation and watershed protection efforts.
Global Impact
- The MSU Herbarium, founded in 1863, is one of the oldest and most comprehensive biological collections in Michigan, housing over half a million plant, fungal, and algal specimens. It supports biodiversity research by documenting species diversity and distribution across Michigan and beyond. The Herbarium serves as a vital resource for taxonomy, ecology, and conservation studies, while also providing digital access to specimens and data for researchers worldwide. The Herbarium has one of the largest lichen collections in North America.
- Institute for Biodiversity, Ecology, Evolution, and Macrosystems (IBEEM) is a research center dedicated to understanding the patterns and processes shaping biodiversity and ecosystems across scales. The institute brings together researchers from five colleges, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration and large-scale ecological research to to increase the impact of biodiversity research and guide conservation and sustainability efforts.
- W.K. Kellogg Biological Station (KBS): one of North America’s premier inland field stations, KBS is a premier site for field experimental research in aquatic and terrestrial ecology that takes advantage of the diverse managed and unmanaged ecosystems. The varied habitats of KBS includes forests, old fields, streams, wetlands, lakes, and agricultural lands. KBS is home to one of the National Science Foundation’s Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER), and is committed to science and ecology education, conservation of natural resources and sustainable agriculture research and demonstration.
Events and Other Resources
MSU offers several seminars and webinars that promote biodiversity and sustainable land use. See below for select offerings held each year.