Last updated May 29, 2026
LANSING, Mich. – Fenner Conservancy has received a $115,000 grant from the Consumers Energy Foundation supporting Fenner’s Sustainable Ecosystem Restoration project. This project will restore native habitats and strengthen ecosystem health while engaging the public in conservation and stewardship of air, land, and water.
Grant funds will support the removal of invasive woody and herbaceous plant species and the use of controlled and prescribed burns to restore ecological balance. The project will also include planting native seeds and seedlings, removing invasive species from wetland and aquatic areas, re-establishing native vegetation across terrestrial habitats, and naturalizing shoreline areas. Additional activities include propagating native plant species, providing the materials needed to complete restoration work, and other efforts that directly support conservation and stewardship goals.
This project will also improve water and air quality across the surrounding ecosystem. Its conservation impact is further strengthened through participatory learning opportunities that help visitors understand and apply ecological restoration practices within their own communities. Protecting and restoring prairie, woodland, and wetland habitats is at the heart of the project. The prairie ecosystem at Fenner Nature Center is considered critically imperiled, making its restoration especially important.
About Fenner Conservancy
Fenner Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the managing body of Fenner Nature Center and Fenner Nature Preschool, connects people to nature in the heart of Lansing through conservation, education, and stewardship. Through the efforts of this organization, Fenner Nature Center continues to serve as a place of connection for our community and a regional resource for environmental education.
About the Consumers Energy Foundation
The Consumers Energy Foundation is the charitable arm of Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy provider. The Consumers Energy Foundation enables communities to thrive and grow by investing in what’s most important to Michigan – its people, our planet and Michigan’s prosperity. In 2020, the Consumers Energy Foundation, Consumers Energy and its employees and retirees contributed over $20 million to Michigan nonprofits. For more information about the Consumers Energy Foundation, visit www.ConsumersEnergy.com/foundation.