OAK barrens are a globally rare natural community that occurs on droughty, sandy soils throughout the great lakes region of the united states

The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 3 awarded the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) $333,561 on October 1, 2025, under the State Wildlife Grants program (CFDA 15.634) to address knowledge gaps, enhance and restore habitat, and inform future management for two species of turtle and five species of Lepidoptera (four butterfly and one moth) that are listed as species of greatest conservation need in Michigan's State Wildlife Action Plan and rely on oak barrens habitat.

The Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) will conduct investigations and monitoring in suitable habitats where target species have not been documented, observations are historical, or status is uncertain due to lack of recent surveys. Habitat assessments for the target species will be completed where habitat enhancement is initiated. The work focuses on oak barrens—globally rare, fire-dependent savanna communities with 5 to 60 percent canopy cover that are particularly vulnerable to fragmentation and species loss. The project area targets locations that connect barrens habitat, aligning with Michigan's strategy to improve connectivity for birds, herptiles, and pollinators in the scarce barrens conservation landscape.

Performance occurs in Michigan. The period of performance runs from October 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028.

They are fire-dependent, savanna communities that are characterized by a canopy cover between 5 and 60% and dominated by a mosaic of open tree/shrub canopy (e.g., oaks and pines) and prairie-like herbaceous understory. The unique habitats within OAK barrens are particularly vulnerable to species loss, as fire suppression, leading to succession, combined with conversion to agriculture and development, can lead to fragmented landscapes. Fragmentation disrupts the movement of animals dependent on barrens and renders habitat unsuitable for species dependent on larger areas. Michigan DNR and the michigan natural features inventory (mnfi) propose to address knowledge gaps, enhance/restore habitat, and inform future habitat and land management for two species of turtle and five species of lepidopterans(four butterfly and one moth) that rely on or frequently occur in barrens and are listed as species of greatest conservation need (sgcn) in michigan's state wildlife action plan (swap). The project area is embedded within larger areas of conservation opportunity, focusing management at locations that connect barrens habitat. Improving connectivity is an important conservation strategy for birds, herptiles and pollinators emphasized in michigan's swap, particularly for barrens where conservation opportunities are scarce and require sustained care. Because barrens habitat is rare outside of michigan and wisconsin, these two states are likely the best opportunities nationally to target OAK barrens habitat work and their associated sgcn. Mnfi will complete investigations and monitoring in suitable habitats where a species has not been documented, observations are historical, or where status is uncertain due to lack of recent surveys. Habitat assessments for the target species will be completed where habitat enhancement is initiated or to provide information for future land management activities. Ecologically inappropriate trees like black locust and red cedar will be removed to restore open canopy structure and OAK dominated composition to barrens, savanna, and adjacent grasslands for the benefit of target species. Planting and inter-seeding will occur using site appropriate local genotype larval host plants and diverse nectar sources for barrens and sand prairie species. This project will benefit the conservation needs of seven sgcn species in MI by providing updated species distribution/occurrences, identifying and carrying out habitat improvement in key sites, creating baseline data for future survey efforts, and working to meet swap goals.