Accelerated Forest Wildlife Habitat Program, Phase 1

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2011 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,791,000
Fund Source
Outdoor Heritage Fund
Recipient
DNR
Recipient Type
State Government
Status
In Progress
Start Date
July 2010
End Date
June 2015
Activity Type
Land Acquisition
Restoration/Enhancement
Counties Affected
Aitkin
Beltrami
Benton
Cass
Chisago
Cook
Crow Wing
Dakota
Fillmore
Goodhue
Hennepin
Hubbard
Itasca
Koochiching
Lake
Lake of the Woods
Marshall
Mille Lacs
Olmsted
Pine
Rice
Roseau
St. Louis
St. Louis
Aitkin
Beltrami
Benton
Cass
Chisago
Cook
Crow Wing
Dakota
Fillmore
Goodhue
Hennepin
Hubbard
Itasca
Koochiching
Lake
Lake of the Woods
Marshall
Mille Lacs
Olmsted
Pine
Rice
Roseau
St. Louis
St. Louis
Project Overview

This program will increase populations of a variety of game and non-game wildlife species by protecting and enhancing forest habitats on which wildlife depends. This program of on-the-ground forest conservation projects will amplify the wildlife value of forest communities on DNR administered forestlands. Our forest enhancement will treat 4,472 ac. These activities are not conducted as part of the DNR's commercial timber operations. Additionally, our program will acquire 404 acres of forestland that contributes to habitat complexes and other high priorities. Acquisitions focus on forestland for public hunting, and compatible outdoor uses. At a reduced level of funding, we are focusing on management activities that will maximize wildlife habitat outcomes, especially prescribed burning, hand release, and shearing/mowing. Our program will enhance oak and create a mix of young hardwood forest with more open meadow/brush lands to benefit grouse, elk, and deer. Forest opening creation/enhancement will increase nut and berry production, provide roosting/display areas, and create feeding areas for moose, deer, ruffed grouse, woodcock, and bear. Shearing of trees and brush in large open landscape priority areas will benefit sharp-tailed grouse. Shearing and mowing of hardwoods and brush in smaller patches will benefit woodcock and deer.Our program will benefit a number of nongame species, including yellow rails, sandhill cranes, northern harriers, bobolinks, and upland sandpipers. Activities that create/enhance forest openings will provide habitat for nongame species, including least chipmunks, northern flickers, coopers hawks, and song sparrows. The less intensive timber management in our program will help protect rare native plant communities and a number of nongame species through retention and enhancement of plant species diversity and structure.

About the Issue

Narrative
Forests face a formidable array of challenges: fragmentation, invasive species, climate change, disease, and changes in forest-based economics and recreation. While Minnesota's 16.2 million ac of forest are diverse, the acreage and composition of forests have changed significantly. The forest acreage is about half of what it was (31.5 million ac) in the mid 1800s.

Just over half of the forestland in Minnesota is publicly owned; the State of Minnesota administers about 24%. Minnesota's forests help maintain the state's environmental and economic health. They are habitat for fish and wildlife, and a source of biodiversity, clean water, watershed protection, carbon sequestration, recreational opportunities, and many other benefits.

Habitat loss and degradation are identified as the primary challenge facing wildlife. Almost one-third of the state's 292 Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) inhabit forests. The management objectives in this program parallel the forest management options outlined in Minnesota's State Wildlife Action Plan, Tomorrow's Habitat for the Wild and Rare (Tomorrow's Habitat Plan). Implementation of these objectives in key habitats identified in the Plan will maintain and enhance native forest communities supporting game and non-game wildlife populations. Tomorrow's Habitat Plan also calls for the purchase and protection of key habitats as another tool to address the conservation needs of these species.

Protecting forests threatened by fragmentation or development provide important opportunities for collaborative conservation of larger scale areas of habitat. Restoration of newly acquired state forestlands is essential to assure that sites in state ownership are improved to increase or retain their value as wildlife habitat.

The availability of public hunting lands does not meet the expectations of a growing Minnesota population. Due to the current recession, land prices have stabilized or declined and a short-term opportunity exists to purchase more value for our expenditures.

Broad goals for this program are provided through the Subsection Forest Resources Management Planning process which does include a public participation process. No opposition is anticipated. County board approval is required for all acquisitions.

Program managers may add, delete, and substitute projects on this parcel list based upon need, readiness, cost, opportunity, and/or urgency so long as the substitute parcel/project forwards the constitutional objectives of this program in the Project Scope table of this accomplishment plan. The final accomplishment plan report will include the final project parcel list.

Project Details

Forests face a formidable array of challenges:  fragmentation, invasive species, climate change, disease, and changes in forest-based economics and recreation.  While Minnesota’s 16.2 million ac of forest are diverse, the acreage and composition of forests have changed significantly.  The forest acreage is about half of what it was (31.5 million ac) in the mid 1800s.  

Just over half of the forestland in Minnesota is publicly owned; the State of Minnesota administers about 24%.  Minnesota’s forests help maintain the state’s environmental and economic health.  They are habitat for fish and wildlife, and a source of biodiversity, clean water, watershed protection, carbon sequestration, recreational opportunities, and many other benefits.  

Habitat loss and degradation are identified as the primary challenge facing wildlife.  Almost one-third of the state’s 292 Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) inhabit forests.  The management objectives in this program parallel the forest management options outlined in Minnesota’s State Wildlife Action Plan, Tomorrow's Habitat for the Wild and Rare (Tomorrow’s Habitat Plan).  Implementation of these objectives in key habitats identified in the Plan will maintain and enhance native forest communities supporting game and non-game wildlife populations.  Tomorrow's Habitat Plan also calls for the purchase and protection of key habitats as another tool to address the conservation needs of these species.

Protecting forests threatened by fragmentation or development provides important opportunities for collaborative conservation of larger scale areas of habitat.  Restoration of newly acquired state forestlands is essential to assure that sites in state ownership are improved to increase or retain their value as wildlife habitat.  

The availability of public hunting lands does not meet the expectations of a growing Minnesota population.  Due to the current recession, land prices have stabilized or declined and a short-term opportunity exists to purchase more value for our expenditures.  

Broad goals for this program are provided through the Subsection Forest Resources Management Planning process which includes a public participation process.  No opposition was anticipated.  County board approval was required for all acquisitions.

Program managers were permitted to add, delete, and substitute projects on the parcel list based upon need, readiness, cost, opportunity, and/or urgency so long as the substitute parcel/project forwarded the constitutional objectives of this program in the Project Scope table of the accomplishment plan.  This final report includes the final project parcel list.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
ML 2010, Ch. 361, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 3(d)
Appropriation Language

$1,791,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources for acceleration of agency programs to acquire, in fee, land for state forests and restore and enhance state forest habitat. A list of projects including proposed fee title acquisitions and restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. All restorations must comply with subdivision 9, paragraph (b).

2011 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,791,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$0
Direct expenses
$1,791,000
Administration costs
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded
3.65
Measurable Outcome(s)

Protected in fee 397 acres and enhanced 7,586 of forests

Project Manager
First Name
Cynthia
Last Name
Osmundson
Organization Name
DNR
Street Address
500 Lafayette Rd
City
St Paul
Zip Code
55155
Phone
(651) 259-5169
Email
bob.welsh@state.mn.us
Administered By
Administered by
Location

500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone
651-296-6157
Email the Agency