Conservation programs targeted at private lands demand a great deal of effort at building relationships with landowners.  It can be a long process and not something well suited for a summer intern.  But, as an intern with Michiganí¢â‚¬â„¢s Department of Resources, Landowner Incentive Program (LIP), Andrew Fotinos was fortunate to have the opportunity to í¢â‚¬Ëœborrowí¢â‚¬â„¢ the credibility of his supervisor and work with landowners with whom he had already established relationships. 

Andrew worked with landowners and land managers in the southeast portion of the state to establish a photo monitoring program on LIP project sites.  The DNR, its partners, and the landowners will be able to use this new information to inform future management decisions.  As a whole, it was a great experience to meet some of the most active conservation stewards in southeast Michigan.  Andrew was able to work with them to conduct threatened and endangered species surveys, learn more about how their agencies or non-profits work, and gain a new understanding and appreciation for field work.  The experience helped Andrew to expand from his purely administrative background in this type of conservation work, to work on his skills interacting with landowners and others in the field.

Internship Details