ANN ARBOR—While great environmental gains have been made throughout Michigan since the early 1970s, issues including habitat loss and invasive species remain serious threats to the state’s natural ecological systems, according to the authors of a chapter in a new book that examines challenges facing the state.

“Better understanding of the state of Michigan’s environment will help the governor and legislature formulate their priorities for environmental efforts in coming years,” said Gloria Helfand, associate professor at the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment and co-author of the chapter with John Wolfe of Limno-Tech, Inc. an Ann Arbor environmental consulting firm specializing in water quality issues. “Our findings detail where the state has made environmental progress and where it needs to step up its efforts.”

According to Wolfe, evidence shows that these ecological threats “are accelerating, even as some other measures of environmental quality are gradually improving.”

The book, “Michigan at the Millenium,” gives state policy makers a rare, comprehensive picture of Michigan’s environmental condition. The book examines economic and fiscal challenges facing Michigan and policy options worthy of consideration.

The book is an updated version of its predecessor, “Michigan’s Fiscal and Economic Structure,” edited by Harvey Brazer and published in 1982. The 1982 edition did not contain data about Michigan’s environment.

Helfand says that while addressing such issues may be costly, Michigan residents do not think the state’s environmental spending is excessive.

“In 1998, Michigan voters passed a $675 million Clean Michigan Initiative, indicating they were willing to put more dollars into the state’s environmental efforts,” Helfand said.

The book chapter provides policy makers with background on environmental issues that might be of increasing importance in the coming years. These include pollution trading, environmental justice, combined sewer overflows and nonpoint source pollution.

The book was written and edited by faculty from U-M, Michigan State University and Wayne State University, along with colleagues from other universities, government and research organizations including Citizens Research Council and the Upjohn Institute.

The book’s editors are Charles Ballard, MSU professor of economics; Paul N. Courant, provost and professor of economics at U-M; Douglas Drake, associate director of the State Policy Center in the College of Urban, Labor and Metropolitan Affairs at Wayne State University; Ronald Fisher, professor of economics and director of the Honors College at MSU; and Elisabeth Gerber, public policy professor and director of the U-M Center for Local, State and Urban Policy at the Ford School of Public Policy.

The University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment supports the protection of the Earth’s resources and the achievement of a sustainable society. Faculty and students strive to generate knowledge, develop innovative policies and refine new techniques through research and education (www.snre.umich.edu).