Minnesota Forests for the Future

Conserving Minnesota’s working forest lands to meet the state’s future recreation, economic, and ecological needs

Strategic Report of the DNR Commissioner’s Advisory Committee on the Minnesota Forests for the Future Program

Andy HoldsworthRichard PetersonKeith Wendt

1. Assess parcelization and other trends impacting the state’s working forest lands.

2. Review the state’s forest conservation easement activities.

3. Make recommendations for creating a multi-partner state program to use conservation easements and other tools to retain Minnesota’s working forest lands.

Committee ChargeThe Committee

Members

Mark Johnson, co-chair Minnesota Deer Hunters Association

Bud Stone, co-chair Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce

Wayne Brandt Minnesota Forest Industries

Dennis Fink St. Louis County Commissioner

Tom Landwehr The Nature Conservancy

Chuck Lepper Koochiching County Board Chair

Susan Schmidt Trust for Public Land

Tom Umphress National OHV Conservation Council

Laurie Martinson DNR Deputy Commissioner

Craig Engwall DNR Northeast Regional Director

Dave Epperly DNR Division of Forestry Director

Dave Schad DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife Director

Marty Vadis DNR Division of Lands & Minerals Director

The Committee

3 - part Report Framework

1. Strategic Report

2. Implementation Report

3. Annual Performance Report

The Committee

Sustaining Working ForestsChallenge

A Comprehensive Forest Conservation Strategy

Challenge

A. Maintains large, intact forest landscapes

B. Protects & reconnects fragmented forest landscapes

Major PressuresChallenge

Changing Forest OwnershipChallenge

2004 Boise Cascade sale

Other corporate land

Public land

Private non- industrial land

Forest Parcelization and

Fragmentation

Challenge

Conservation Easements

• Voluntary

• Individually negotiated

• Legally binding

• Land remains in private ownership

• Land stays on local tax rolls

• Most are permanent

Opportunity

An effective tool

Building on Success

Minnesota Forest Legacy Program Funding Sources: 1999-2004 vs. 2005-2008

0

5

10

15

20

25

Owner Private State Federal Total

Mili

ons

of D

olla

rs

1999-2004

2005-2008

Opportunity

Minnesota Forest Legacy Program

Mil

lio

ns

of

Do

llars

Th

ou

san

ds

of

Acr

es

Funding Sources: ’99 - ’04 vs. ’05 - ’08

Cumulative Acres Protected

Rice County Big Woods Case

Study 1Protecting and reconnecting fragmented forests in S. Minnesota

County Administered LandsForest Legacy ProjectsState Administered LandsSection LinesRoads

Acres: 1250 acres

Cost (18 projects): $3.7 million

Koochiching-WashingtonCase

Study 2Protecting large, intact forest blocks for multiple public benefits

Lakes

RoadsCounty Administered LandsState Administered LandsTribal LandsConservation Easement

Acres: 51,163 acres

Cost (1 project): $12 million

Establish Forests for the Future

MN Forests for the Future

1999

• Single partner (USFS)

• Small landowner focus

• Federal guidance

• Multiple partners

• Forest landscape focus

• MN Stakeholder guidance

Federal Forest Legacy

- 2008

Response

Minnesota Forests for the Future Program established 2008

Minnesota Forests for the Future Program

Minnesota Statutes Chapter 84.66

Purpose Establishment Land eligibility Land interests Application Landowner

responsibilities Advisory team Monitoring,

enforcement, and damages

Response

Program Focus

Promoting an interconnected network of sustainably managed private and public forests.

Response

OutdoorRecreation

Economic Development

Natural Resources Protection

Minnesota Forests for the Future

Program Goals

1. Conserve forests with high public benefits

2. Promote strategic conservation of private forests

3. Practice sustainable forestry and maintain productive forest lands

4. Establish and maintain sound and accountable program processes, practices, and procedures

5. Implement a comprehensive easement stewardship program

6. Establish and maintain diverse partnerships

Response

Toolbox ApproachResponse

Acreage TargetsResponse

Short-term (2009): 75,000 acres

Target Range

Laurentian Mixed Forest

Eastern Broadleaf

Forest

Total

Low End 250,000 20,000 270,000

Upper End 500,000 30,000 530,000

Preliminary Long-term (up to 25 years):

Project SelectionResponse

Core Criteria (in review):

1. Project Size2. Strategic Location3. Recreational Importance4. Economic Importance5. Ecological Importance6. Additional Considerations

Early SuccessProtecting large, intact forest blocks for multiple public benefits

Upper Mississippi Forest Project Acres: 187,277L-SOHC $18M - FY 2010; $18M - FY2011

A New Era

A New Era for Forest Conservation

Protecting large, intact forest blocks for multiple public benefits

A New Era

Program Application is Open

Program Areas for federal funds

www.mndnr.gov/forestlegacy/programinformation.html

(Due Sept. 30 for possible federal fiscal Year ‘11 funding)

More information

www.mndnr.gov/forestlegacy/mff/

Andy.Holdsworth@state.mn.us

Richard.Peterson@state.mn.us