The current chair of Michigan’s Natural Resources Commission (NRC), Tom Baird is a retired attorney who was born and raised in Grand Rapids, practiced law in Lansing, and currently lives in Elk Rapids. Throughout life his passions have been conservation and the environment. This led to various roles as board member of FLOW and in Anglers of the Au Sable, Trout Unlimited, the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, and other grassroots groups. In addition to chairing the NRC, Tom is a member of the board of the Hal and Jean Glassed memorial Foundation.
We asked Tom several questions about the NRC and his views on key issues.
How do you see climate change affecting the DNR’s mission?
Climate change is impacting almost every aspect of the DNR’s work. Whether it involves our forests, fisheries or wildlife, all are being impacted right now. Immediate concerns include the expansion of invasive species from warmer climes, warming of our coldwater resource, and changes in wildlife habitat. Efforts are now underway to make our natural resources more resilient to climate change.
Tom Baird poses with his dog.
Do you find the public to be very engaged or not so engaged in the NRC’s work?
The majority of the public is not engaged with the NRC, and even our hunters and anglers know very little about what the NRC does and how it works. There are basically two reasons. First, the scope of the NRC’s authority has been severely limited over the years by a variety of laws and executive orders. Where the NRC used to run the DNR, including hiring the director and setting all department policy, the role of the current NRC is to set regulations for hunting and recreational fishing and provide advice to the department on other natural resource issues. Second, the number of hunters in Michigan is declining, both in absolute terms and as a percentage of the population, so less people have a direct stake in what the NRC does.
What has surprised you the most during your service on the NRC?
I was surprised by the sheer number of things I didn’t know about the DNR, its staff, and the various species of fish and game which we regulate. Our fisheries and wildlife biologists are some of the best in the world, and others around the country always want to know “what’s Michigan doing” about common problems.
In what way does the public trust doctrine interact with the department’s work?
The public trust doctrine is an interesting concept when applied to hunting and fishing. Except when dealing with public surface waters, the public trust doctrine is rarely mentioned. Yet, our fish and wildlife are held in trust by the state for the benefit and enjoyment of all the people. This is an area which deserves further exploration.
What are you most hopeful about in terms of Michigan’s natural resource status?
I am hopeful that future sportsmen and women will remember their role in the protection of our fish and wildlife and the places they live. Our society today is, in many ways, very self-centered and “entitled.” That perspective keeps us from seeing the big picture and doing what is right for our children and grandchildren. We need to do a much better job remembering that it’s about the resource, not just about our fishing and hunting success next season. It appears that our younger generations are beginning to understand these things and are ready to step up now that it’s their turn.
