Tyler Allyn-White
Ottawa County Parks & Recreation Commission
Tyler serves as the Stewardship Supervisor for Ottawa County Parks & Recreation, helping lead the stewardship of nearly 8,000 acres of natural lands along West Michigan’s lakeshore. His team oversees invasive species and forest health management, habitat restoration, native plantings, prescribed fire, research, and public programs that support regional conservation priorities. He is deeply motivated to equip and inspire community members to take conservation action on their own properties, expanding local restoration efforts and strengthening the connection between people and the landscapes they call home.
All Sessions by Tyler Allyn-White
Redefining Who Restores, Leads, and Belongs to the Land
Conservation has long been treated as something that happens within park boundaries, led by a small group of trained professionals. This panel challenges that idea, bringing together three projects from across Michigan that are redefining who gets to be a steward of the land. From transforming private yards and neighborhoods into a connected network of restored habitat, to trusting young people to lead real environmental decision-making in their communities, to reclaiming an industrial river corridor as a natural and recreational resource for the communities along it, these projects share a common thread: stewardship works best when it belongs to everyone, not just the few.