Why is this important?Natural resources don't start or stop at ownership boundaries. As a result, DNR's ability to administer state forests, parks, wildlife management areas, aquatic management areas, and scientific and natural areas is strongly influenced by the management of surrounding lands and waters. Integrating public and private land management helps us manage state lands for the benefit of all Minnesotans while enhancing the integrity of land and water across ownerships. Habitat fragmentation and development are diminishing the ability of land and water to provide ecological, recreational, and economic benefits. For example: Forest ownership change: In northern Minnesota, timber and mining companies are selling thousands of acres to investors who value forest lands not only as a source of natural resources, but also for their potential to provide return on investment through real estate development and other options. These lands are often situated between state and county forests. Development and fragmentation of lands adjacent to public lands can impede management, restrict public recreational access, and reduce the habitat value of public lands.  In Lake County, large tracts of private land (P) are interwoven with public forest lands. Changing ownership opens the door to parcelization and development, threatening the integrity of unbroken habitat. Agricultural intensification: We anticipate possible loss of agricultural lands enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program. At the same time, row crop production continues to increase. Row cropping provides limited habitat value and poses challenges for water quality and habitat conservation on nearby public and private lands.  Minnesota acres planted to hay and pasture are declining while row crop acreage is increasing. |
Where is DNR headingDNR is promoting integrated management of private and public lands in many ways. For example: Comprehensive Land Asset Plans: We are developing comprehensive plans for acquiring and managing land. Such plans help us integrate economic, ecological, and recreational benefits. They also enhance real estate services, improve productivity of DNR-administered lands, and protect resources. Land Records: We are improving the value of our land records system for informing decisions about land assets. The re-engineered system will increase efficiency and transparency of land transactions and improve public access to records. Conservation Easements: A conservation easement is a restriction placed on a property to protect its conservation values. DNR holds more than 1,000 easements as large as 187,000 acres. We are improving our easement management system and seeking long-term funding for monitoring and enforcing easements. Fee-Title Acquisition: Fee-title acquisition is a fundamental tool for protecting priority lands and waters as wildlife management areas, state parks, state forests, scientific and natural areas, and other DNR-administered units. Landscape-scale Programs: We are pursuing integrated management for extensive interspersed public and private lands. We are strengthening our participation in public-private partnerships to build our capacity to work across ownership boundaries. DNR actions (a few examples)DNR is advancing conservation efforts aimed at creating an interconnected network of sustainably managed natural and working lands across entire watersheds and landscapes. |
(Detailed descriptions of these and other measures are found in DNR's Strategic Conservation Agenda: Part II - Performance and Accountability Report.)
Wildlife Management Areas: Number of acres protected in Wildlife Management Areas
Aquatic Management Areas: Number of shoreline miles protected in Aquatic Management Areas
State Park Lands: Acres of remnant and restored prairie in state parks and along state trails
Scientific and Natural Areas: Number of sites protected as SNAs
Forest Certification: Acres of state-administered lands approved for forest certification
Conservation Easements: Acres and number of conservation easements held by DNR and regularly monitored
Prairie Wetland Complexes: Acres of prairie wetlands and grasslands protected annually
Terrestrial Invasive Species: Number of DNR land management units mapped for terrestrial invasive plants