MN Forests for the Future / Upper Mississippi Project, Phase 1 & 2

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2010 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$36,000,000
Fund Source
Outdoor Heritage Fund
Recipient
DNR
Recipient Type
State Government
Status
None
Start Date
July 2009
End Date
June 2012
Activity Type
Land Acquisition
Counties Affected
Aitkin
Beltrami
Cass
Clearwater
Itasca
Kanabec
Kanabec
Aitkin
Beltrami
Cass
Clearwater
Itasca
Kanabec
Kanabec
Project Overview

Our program/project will protect and maintain intact forest ecosystems through the use of perpetual conservation easements and other tools. This program/project will directly protect approximately 187, 277 acres of forest and wetlands with permanent conservation easements and 1,344 acres with fee acquisition.

About the Issue

This proposal will protect nearly 190,000 acres of private forest through the use of working forest conservation easements and fee acquisition that will prevent forestland conversion and parcelization. The highest priority blocks of forest within Minnesota's forested subsections will be targeted for permanent protection. Acquisitions will prevent development, assure traditional public access for hunting and fishing, and allow for sustainable forest management. The sale of large timber company holdings in Minnesota is part of a national trend. These large blocks of forest provide critical connectivity with public conservation lands. Private and public forest lands interact to create a working forest across the landscape that provides essential benefits Minnesotans deeply care about. The vision of the MFF is to protect up to 530,000 acres of private forests over the next 25 years (see Minnesota Forests for the Future: Strategic Report. April 2008). The current request reflects an accelerated acquisition program over the next 3-4 years in order to take advantage of a short window of opportunity to protect some of the largest, remaining blocks of private forestland in the state. Projects funded under this program will protect forests, prevent forest fragmentation and encourage forest consolidation - outcomes consistent with Minnesota Statutes 97A.056.
The state faces a major challenge today and in the future due to the thousands of acres of privately owned forest being sold across Minnesota. These forestland sales can impact the state's ability to sustain its forests for multiple public benefits including fish and wildlife habitat, public recreation, and forest products production. Forest conversion from development and parcelization can lead to forest fragmentation, or the creation of many small forest "islands" separated by nonforested areas. Forest conversion and fragmentation erodes the functioning of the remaining natural system, reducing the forest's resilience to disturbances such as windstorms, fire, climate change and invasive species. Conversion and fragmentation also endangers habitat for native wildlife species, especially for larger mammals such as bears and wolves, which require large tracts of undeveloped land. Additionally, development and parcelization is a threat to public access of forests.
In cooperation with partners and stakeholders, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will identify and protect the most critical large blocks of forestland in Minnesota. Prioritized projects will: provide permanent protection to forests and associated habitats; continue traditional public access and uses including hunting and fishing; and allow for the sustainable harvest of timber and other forest products. This proposal can have a significant impact at a landscape scale due to the immediate opportunities presented by several high priority projects within the Laurentian Mixed Forest Province. Pre-acquisition activities including conservation easement negotiations and appraisals are either completed or underway on these key projects. Additional project identification, prioritization and protection will be completed during 2010 through 2013.
This project/program has been recommended and supported by local governments including Itasca County.
Specific conservation values protected by this project proposal include:

  • significant forest resources that are intended to be used for commercial timber production and which are an important element of the local, state, and regional economy;
  • ?economically and environmentally important private forestlands that are threatened by fragmentation, parcelization and conversion to non-forest uses;
  • the adjacency of the Protected Property to numerous parcels of public lands under forest management where coordination of harvests and related activities is important for the management of public lands; and
  • ?water features, including 30 miles of state-designated trout streams and 121 miles of other streams, 133 miles of lake and pond shoreline, and over 60,000 acres of wetlands, which features provide value to water quality, habitat for species and natural communities, and enhance the public?s recreational experience;
  • significant cultural areas and native plant communities and wildlife species habitat as identified by the Minnesota Natural Heritage Program and other sources;
  • native forests and natural ecosystems and unique geologic features including an intact esker;
  • views of the Protected Property from 36 miles of publicly-recognized scenic roadways;
  • the adjacency of the Protected Property to numerous parcels of public land thereby providing a buffer to the habitat and other values provided on said public parcels;
  • the adjacency of the Protected Property to numerous public parcels of land which provides access to said public lands;
  • 82 miles of snowmobile trails and 262 miles of off-highway vehicle routes including 32 miles of state-designated off-highway vehicle trails;
  • Over 187,000 acres for the public for other, non-motorized uses including hunting, fishing, trapping, cross-country skiing, birdwatching, berry picking, hiking, snow shoeing; and
  • A corridor established for hiking and cross-country skiing trails including the North Country National Scenic Trail, which trail has been recognized by the United States Congress and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as providing state and nationally significant scenic, recreational, historic, natural, and cultural qualities.
Project Details

Accomplishment Plan: http://www.lsohc.leg.mn/FY2010/accomp_plan/3.pdf

This proposal will protect over 190,000 acres of private forest through the use of working forest conservation easements and fee acquisition that prevents forestland conversion and parcelization. The highest priority blocks of forest within Minnesota’s forested subsections will be targeted for permanent protection. Acquisitions will prevent development, assure traditional public access for hunting and fishing, and allow for sustainable forest management. The sale of large timber company holdings in Minnesota is part of a national trend. These large blocks of forest provide critical connectivity with public conservation lands. Private and public forest lands interact to create a working forest across the landscape that provides essential benefits Minnesotans care deeply about. The vision of the Minnesota Forests for the Future Program is to protect up to 530,000 acres of private forests over the next 25 years (see Minnesota Forests for the Future: A Strategic Report. April 2008). The current request reflects an accelerated acquisition program over the next 3-4 years in order to take advantage of a short window of opportunity to protect some of the largest, remaining blocks of private forestland in the state. Projects funded under this program will protect forests, prevent forest fragmentation and encourage forest consolidation –outcomes consistent with Minnesota Statutes 97A.056.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
ML 2009, Ch. 172, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 3
Appropriation Language

$18,000,000 in fiscal year 2010 and $18,000,000 in fiscal year 2011 are to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire land or permanent working forest easements on private forests in areas identified through the Minnesota forests for the future program under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.66. Priority must be given to acquiring land or interests in private lands within existing Minnesota state forest boundaries. Any easements acquired must have a forest management plan as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 290C.02, subdivision 7. A list of proposed fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The fiscal year 2011 appropriation is available only for acquisitions that, by August 15, 2009, are: (1) subject to a binding agreement with the commissioner; and (2) matched by at least $9,000,000 in private donations.

2010 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$36,000,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$0
Direct expenses
$36,000,000
Administration costs
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded
0
Measurable Outcome(s)

190,622

Project Manager
First Name
Richard
Last Name
F.
Organization Name
DNR
Street Address
1810 - 30th St. NW
City
Faribault
State
None
Zip Code
55021
Phone
5073332012
Email
richard.f.peterson@state.mn.us
Administered By
Administered by
Location

500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone
651-296-6157
Email the Agency