Forestry Conservation Incentives to Protect the Crow Wing River

The Crow Wing River is a valuable natural resource and forested regions in the watershed are at risk from conversion to cropland and clearing for other uses. In order to maintain the high quality upland that protects the water quality, forestry practices are being encouraged with cost-sharing and education in an effort to manage, protect, and improve existing forest stands. This includes cost sharing for forestry management plans, training on tree thinning and planting, and encouraging participation in the Sustainable Forest Incentive Act (SFIA).The measureable goal for this project is to complete 45 Forest Stewardship Plans and enroll those lands in SFIA or the managed class 2c tax reduction in order to increase the percent of protected acres for minor watersheds with a high risk for private land conversion.