Glossary of Terms
brood
All periodical cicadas of the same life cycle type that emerge in a given year
Chikaming Open Lands
A land conservancy based in Sawyer, Michigan focused on the preservation of open space and the natural, rural character of southwest Berrien County.
Chikaming Open Lands Endowment Fund
A fund built through the investment of financial contributions given with the stipulation that only the income earned on the assets can be spent, leaving the principal intact.
Chikaming Open Lands Service Area
Nine townships within Berrien County, including Chikaming, Three Oaks, New Buffalo, Bertrand, Galien, Baroda, Buchanan, Lake and Weesaw Townships.
Conservancy
An organization dedicated to the protection of the environment and its resources.
Conservation Easement
A voluntary legal agreement between a land conservancy, like Chikaming Open Lands, and a private landowner that permanently preserves the natural features or agricultural soils of the land.
Ecosystem
A system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms within their environment.
Fen
A lowland covered or partially covered with water; also known as a marsh.
Land Steward
Any person dedicated to the conservation, maintenance and restoration of the land.
Native Grasses
The various regional and national grasses that are original to a particular area.
Nature Preserve
A tract of land that is set aside and protected to preserve native plant and animal habitat.
periodical cicada
Cicadas that emerge cyclically every 13 or 17 years. These are different than annual cicadas, which emerge every year.
Prescribed Burn
A highly controlled burning of vegetation in a natural area which controls invasive, non-native plant species and encourages native regrowth.
Stewardship
The conservation, maintenance and restoration of land.
Unrestricted Gift
Donations to an organization that are applied to the areas of greatest need as determined by that organization.
Wet Prairie
A kind of marsh identified by its lack of trees, ground cover of grasses and herbs, and flat terrain. A wet prairie is a shallow basin that will see periods of flooding and drying out during a typical year.
Wet Woods
Woodland existing on soils that are often or seasonally wet. Often found along streams and rivers or on the margins of marshes.
Wetlands
Lands with a wet, spongy soil, like a marsh.
Woodland
A tract of land covered with woods or trees.
