MSU has over 700 acres of campus natural areas in its East Lansing campus. Stewardship of the natural areas is overseen by the Campus Natural Areas Classroom, Curriculum and Conservation Committee (CNA3C). The committee is responsible for establishing policies and guidelines that protect native biodiversity, support sustainable management of resources within the natural areas, and balance activities proposed for specific natural areas with conservation objectives. Campus natural areas are protected spaces per the campus zoning ordinance, with development prohibited and stewardship activities focused on maintaining and restoring ecological integrity.
MSU identifies and monitors species of conservation concern through systematic bio-inventories of campus natural areas. Over the past five years, 14 bio-inventories have been completed across campus natural areas, documenting plant communities and identifying species listed on the IUCN Red List as well as species designated as special concern, threatened, or endangered by the State of Michigan. Findings from bio-inventories are reported back to CNA3C and used to inform management and stewardship efforts. Inventory results are publicly reported and available below. Five natural areas have documented cases of rare taxa, including:
MSU’s main East Lansing campus is a designated arboretum containing more than 20,000 inventoried trees. Tree records are maintained in a publicly accessible database and support long-term monitoring and management of the university's tree collection. Board of Trustees Ordinance 24 prohibits the damaging or removal of vegetation without authorization, and under the Tree Management Plan, species rarity, environmental impact, and conservation value are considered before tree removal decisions are made. The plan directs the university to favor preservation, relocation, or propagation of rare taxa, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, or heirloom varieties when feasible rather than removal.