Biology Department // Northern Michigan University

University Lands

The Biology Department also makes extensive use of various University lands including the Longyear Forest. Longyear is a small (120 acre) forest composed of northern hardwoods with some conifers. It also includes northern bog habitat. The forest is used for research and for ecology field exercises.

Longyear Forest
Longyear tract is 160 acres that were donated to the University (120 acres in 1949 and an additional 40 acres in 1958) by Mrs. Abby Beecher Roberts as a memorial to her father, John Munro Longyear. Longyear is primarily a forest habitat composed of northern hardwoods with some conifers. It also includes northern bog habitat. The forest is used for research and for ecology field exercises. It is also used for recreation by students and the local community.

The Shiras Tract
The Shiras Tract is 205 acres that includes 100 acres acquired from the Michigan Department of Corrections in 1966 and another 105 acres received as a gift from Cleveland Cliffs Corporation (actually Cliffs Electric Service Company) in 1986. The area is used by some faculty for courses and research. The trails through the property are also extensively used by the local community.

The Triangle
The Triangle (Dune and Swale/Lakeshore) Tract was originally 46 acres that were purchased from the Royal Charcoal Company in 1969. In 1972 NMU did a land exchange with the City of Marquette so that the city could build Lakeview Arena. Currently NMU owns about 38 acres. This area is available for courses and research.