Northern Forest Habitat Conservation
The Minnesota Land Trust, The Conservation Fund and St. Louis County seek to strategically acquire up to 4,600 acres of former industrial forest land to permanently maintain large, unfragmented blocks of northeast forest habitats vital to regional wildlife populations and sustainable forestry.
St. Louis County lies at the center of Minnesota's iconic northern forest landscape. Northern forests provide high quality wildlife habitat, clean water, sustainable forestry products and recreational opportunities because of the large, contiguous, publicly accessible lands. The restructuring of the global timber industry has put Minnesota's forest lands at risk as industrial owners divest land assets. The Minnesota Forest Resources Council identified parcelization of these lands as the primary threat to the ecological and economic health of Minnesota's forests. To ensure healthy game and non-game wildlife populations and to maintain historic public access points for hunting and fishing for future generations the integrity of large forest tracks must be preserved. The time is now to secure these lands to preserve the quality of northern forest habitats and provide enduring public benefits.
Goals and Scope of Work
The goal of this project is to ensure long term sustainability of game species such as, white tail deer and ruffed grouse as well as Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) including moose, spruce grouse, northern long-eared bat and Canada lynx in St. Louis County. Our objective is to acquire fee title to up to 3,900 acres of strategically located for-sale industrial forest land to fill the gaps between existing public forest lands managed by St. Louis County Lands & Minerals Department (SLCMD). Sustainable, long-term management of large unfragmented forest tracts are essential to guarantee robust wildlife populations for future generations to enjoy and appreciate. The acquired lands help secure the future of the forested landscape in northern Minnesota by enhancing sustainable management of St. Louis County's forest resources and ensuring permanent public access to these large contiguous forest tracts.
All of the lands to be purchased through this appropriation are at-risk former industrial forest lands. PotlatchDeltic Corporation (Potlatch) is actively divesting more than 10,200 acres in St. Louis County, which puts public access for hunting and fishing at imminent risk. The Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) and project partners, St. Louis County Lands & Minerals Department (SLCLMD) and The Conservation Fund (TCF), will prioritize and acquire parcels that best preserve forest integrity and public access.
The Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) with the assistance of The Conservation Fund (TCF) will use appropriated funds for the fee-title purchase of strategic forest parcels. The lands will then be transferred to SLCLMD for permanent conservation and management. All lands will be open to public hunting and fishing. The St. Louis County Board unanimously approved this project (Attachment A).
$4,205,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to acquire forest land in fee to be permanently protected and managed by St. Louis County as county forest lands. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.
Forestlands are protected from development and fragmentation - Northern Forestlands are protected to promote healthy and diverse forests, keep water clean and help maintain healthy wildlife populations This project will permanently protect the plants, animals, natural communities and wildlife habitats found in the forests, wetlands, and shorelines of approximately 3,900 acres of at-risk land with fee title acquisition. The project will permanently restrict incompatible land uses such as development, subdivision, land conversion or other activities that would damage those features. The project will prevent habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and associated wildlife population declines associated with development and fragmentation