The Obtawaing Biosphere Region is a unique and ecologically rich area located in the heart of Northern Michigan, the convergence of two peninsulas and three of the Great Lakes. It was included as part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve network in 1979 when it was designated as the University of Michigan Biological Station Biosphere Reserve. It was expanded, renamed, and re-approved in 2021 as the larger and more inclusive Obtawaing Biosphere Region. This region is recognized by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) as a Biosphere Reserve, which highlights its significant environmental and cultural significance. Biosphere Reserves are places that showcase the relationship between people and nature, aiming to promote sustainable development while preserving biodiversity.

Our livelihoods and quality of life depend on healthy lands, air, and water, as well as the communities in which we reside and foster. Through our partnerships and diverse perspectives, we work to sustain a thriving environment now and into the future. OBR is committed to connecting people and organizations for collaborations across our water-rich region to protect the integrity of natural systems upon which our region’s economic and human well-being rely.

Our work is centered around collaboration. The partners in the Obtawaing Biosphere Region, including local governments, tribes, conservation organizations, businesses, and residents, come together to address the pressing issues facing the region focusing on shared goals for the environment and the people who live here. The OBR is a non-regulatory, non-governmental consortium of organizations that provides a forum for collaboration and service to people and communities in our region. We work together to conserve biodiversity, support cultural diversity, and encourage economic activities that are environmentally, culturally, and socially sustainable. By working together the Obtawaing Biosphere Region strives to be a model for how communities can live in harmony with their natural surroundings while building a sustainable future. It’s a place where ecological health, cultural heritage, and community well-being are interconnected, and where everyone has a role in shaping a thriving, resilient future.

Our Name

Obtawaing is an Anishinaabe term that roughly translates to “the half-way, or meeting point.” This name was gifted to the Biosphere Region by Frank Ettawageshik, Director of the United Tribes of Michigan, President of the Association of American Indian Affairs, and member of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. 

Vision

The Obtawaing Biosphere Region prospers from the sustaining relationships and responsibilities of people and the natural world.

Mission

Obtawaing Biosphere Region partners share ideas and implement solutions to foster relationships and to advance environmental, cultural, and socio-economic sustainability and well-being in the heart of the Great Lakes Region.