Liana is the owner and operator of Borealis Consulting.
About
Borealis Consulting is a woman-owned small business based in Traverse City, Michigan serving Northern Lower and the Upper Peninsula. Borealis Consulting was founded to provide reasonably-priced consulting services for small and medium-sized projects with conservation-related needs, from the public sector and conservation organizations to private landowners. Our goal is to make conservation-related information more readily available and publicly accessible, so that people can make better informed land-use decisions. We work alongside top industry professionals and academics to provide the most contemporary methodologies and management recommendations.
Borealis Consulting is owned and operated by Liana May. Liana's focus is forest ecology and botany, with a strong interest in biogeographical mapping. She has a double Master of Science degree in Conservation Ecology and Informatics (GIS and data analysis and modeling) and has worked in the conservation-sphere for nearly 25 years as a field botanist and ecologist. In her spare time she enjoys gardening, swimming, skiing, and hanging out with her husband and dog. Liana is the President of the Great Lakes Chapter of the Michigan Botanical Society.
Liana offers plant identification workshops, guided hikes in natural areas, and informal walks in the woods several times per year. These are typically coordinated and facilitated through the Michigan Botanical Society, Northwestern Michigan College, and the Leelanau and Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. Registration requirements vary - feel free to contact for upcoming events.
IN THE NEWS
Publications and REports
May, L., and D. Shiels. 2022. Floristic Quality Assessment of the Greenwood Wildlife Sanctuary, Wolverine, MI. Borealis Consulting LLC and Northern Habitats, LLC. Prepared for The Greenwood Foundation, Wolverine, MI. Pp. 95.
Bassett, T.J., E.A. Haber, L.N. May, and J.M. McLaughlin. 2022 Conservation Status Update of Whorled Pogonia (Isotria verticillata) in Michigan. Michigan Natural Features Inventory Report Number 2022-32, Lansing, MI. 36 pp. + vi.
May, L., E. Elgin, D. Digges, A, Ellison, H. Enander, P. Higman. 2021. Baseline Vegetation Assessment of Sand Point Wetland. Michigan Natural Features Inventory Report No. 2021-22. Lansing, USA.
May, L. 2021. Rapid Ecological Assessment of Palmer Woods Forest Reserve, North Addition. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan.
May, L. 2021. Floristic Quality Assessment and Natural Community Mapping of Pat’s Preserve at Lime Lake. Cedar, Michigan. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan.
May, L. 2020. Floristic Quality Assessment and Natural Community Mapping of Additions to the Cedar River Preserve. Cedar, Michigan. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan.
May, L. 2019. Floristic Quality Assessment and Natural Community Mapping of Darnton Family Nature Preserve, East Jordan, Michigan. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Little Traverse Conservancy, Harbor Springs, Michigan.
May, L. 2019. Floristic Quality Assessment and Natural Community Mapping of Finton Natural Area. Northport, Michigan. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan.
May, L. 2019. Floristic Quality Assessment and Natural Community Mapping of Jeff Lamont Preserve, Northport, Michigan. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan.
May, L. N., P.J. Higman and B.J. Klatt. 2019. Monitoring and experimental transplant of Michigan monkey-flower, Maple River population, Emmet County. Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Report No. 2019-38, Lansing, MI.
May, Liana and Phyllis Higman. 2019. Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians Terrestrial Invasive Species Strategic Management Plan. MNFI Report No. 2019-26. 96 pp.
May, L. 2018. Floristic Quality Assessment and Natural Community Mapping of the Waldenmyer Addition to the Hatlem Creek Preserve, Empire, Michigan. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan.
May, L. 2019. Floristic Quality Assessment and Natural Community Mapping of the Woollam Family Nature Preserve, Cross Village, Michigan. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Little Traverse Conservancy, Harbor Springs, Michigan.
May, L.N. and P.J. Higman. 2018. Survey of the Michigan Monkey-flower (Mimulus michiganensis) at the North Branch of the Platte River, Hooker Road, Benzie County, Michigan. Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Report No. 2018-10, Lansing, MI.
May, L. 2017. Floristic Quality Assessment and Natural Community Mapping of the DeYoung Natural Area, Greilickville, Michigan. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan.
Hackett, R.A., P. Higman, and L. May. 2017. Natural Community Delineation and Floristic Quality Assessments of Grass River Natural Area, Antrim County, Michigan. Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Report No. 2017-12, Lansing, MI. 64 pp. Appendices: 62 pp.
May, L. 2017. Noteworthy Collections: Two Northerly Range Expansions from Leelanau County. The Great Lakes Botanist, Vol. 56, Pp 208.
May, L. 2017. Invasive Species Treatment Options: Alternatives to Herbicides. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan.
May, L. 2016. Floristic Quality Assessment and Natural Community Mapping of Soper Natural Area, Northport, Michigan. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan.
May, L. 2016. Floristic Quality Assessment and Natural Community Mapping of Mebert Creek Preserve, Lake Leelanau, Michigan. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan.
May, L. 2015. Floristic Quality Assessment and Natural Community Mapping of Hatlem Creek Preserve Berkshire Addition, Empire, Michigan. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan.
May, L. 2015. Floristic Quality Assessment and Natural Community Mapping of the Satterwhite Addition of the Clay Cliffs Natural Area, Leland, Michigan. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan.
May, L. 2015. Floristic Quality Assessment and Natural Community Mapping of the Three Rivers Addition to the Kehl Lake Natural Area, Northport, Michigan. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan.
May, L., Ben Connor Barrie. 2015. Rapid Ecological Assessment of Palmer Woods Forest Reserve. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan.
May, L. 2014. Floristic Quality Assessment and Natural Community Mapping of the Narrows Natural Area, Lake Leelanau, MI. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan.
May, L. 2014. Floristic Quality Assessment and Natural Community Mapping of Whittlesey Preserve, Omena, Michigan. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan.
May, L. 2014. Floristic Quality Assessment and Natural Community Mapping of Chippewa Run Natural Area, Empire, Michigan. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan.
May, L. 2014. Floristic Quality Assessment and Natural Community Mapping of Fraizer-Freeland Preserve, Omena, Michigan. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan.
May, L. 2014. Floristic Quality Assessment and Natural Community Mapping of the Greeno Preserve, Lake Leelanau, Michigan. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan.
May, L, and Ines Ibanez. 2013. Effects of governance on forest regeneration: Implications for REDD+ Project Management. Master’s Thesis University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and the Environment.
May, L. 2013. Floristic Quality Assessment and Natural Community Mapping of the Houdek Natural Area, Leland, Michigan. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan.
May, L. 2013. Floristic Quality Assessment and Natural Community Mapping of Teichner Preserve, Maple City, Michigan. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan.
May, L. 2013. Floristic Quality Assessment and Natural Community Mapping of Whaleback Natural Area, Leland, Michigan. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan.
May, L. 2012. Floristic Quality Assessment and Natural Community Mapping of Hatlem Creek Preserve, Empire, Michigan. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan.
May, L. 2012. Floristic Quality Assessment and Natural Community Mapping of Belanger Creek Preserve, Omena, Michigan. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan.
May, L. 2012. Floristic Quality Assessment and Natural Community Mapping of Clay Cliffs Natural Area, Northport, Michigan. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan.
May, L. 2012. Floristic Quality Assessment and Natural Community Mapping of Krumweide Forest Reserve, Glen Arbor, Michigan. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan.
May, L. 2012. Floristic Quality Assessment and Natural Community Mapping of Swanson Preserve, Cedar, Michigan. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan.
May, L. 2010. Floristic Quality Assessment of the Cedar River Preserve, Cedar, Michigan. Borealis Consulting LLC, Traverse City and the Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan