Why is this important?We as a society have an obligation to future generations to carefully manage and conserve Minnesota's forests, brushlands, grasslands, wetlands, and shorelands. With more than 75 percent of Minnesota's land under private ownership, private landowners are critical to fulfilling this obligation. A variety of pressures on private lands are growing, increasing the need to proactively protect natural and working land and the natural resources and recreational and economic opportunities they provide. For example:  Working with private landowners is essential for improving Minnesota's land and water health. Grassland habitat change: Less than 1 percent of Minnesota's native prairie remains, and over half of that is on unprotected private land. In addition, nearly 425,000 acres now enrolled in the federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Forest ownership change: Forty percent of Minnesota's forest land is in the hands of private landowners (excluding industry). This land, which is distributed among some 147,000 individuals and organizations, faces increasing development pressure at the same time it is being passed to a new generation of forest landowners who may have different management goals than their predecessors. Shoreland development: Shoreland development can destroy natural habitat and reduce the recreational value of lakes and streams. Even small, single-lot changes to the shore can add up to major harm to water quality and fish and wildlife habitat. |
Where is DNR headingDNR will accelerate its work to help private landowners conserve natural resources by assessing natural resources, providing technical and financial assistance, developing management plans, and delivering information. Priority Setting: Using inventories such as the Minnesota County Biological Survey and integrated landscape planning such as the Minnesota Duck Plan, DNR and partners prioritize private lands for conservation assistance. Conservation Management: We work with landowners to develop stewardship plans that conserve prairies and other grasslands, brushlands, forestlands, wetlands, and shorelands. Financial Assistance: We help landowners find funding for planting trees, developing wildlife plans, and other habitat management activities. We are looking for ways to help landowners obtain compensation for sequestering carbon in their forests. Integrated Conservation Assistance: We are working to improve delivery of private lands assistance through enhanced outreach and collaboration with private landowners and other partners. DNR actions (a few examples)DNR will increase the effectiveness of our private lands assistance programs and simplify the process for helping landowners achieve conservation goals. The integration of the divisions of Waters and Ecological Resources in February 2009 enhances our ability to integrate land and water conservation assistance. |
(Detailed descriptions of these and other measures are found in DNR's Strategic Conservation Agenda: Part II - Performance and Accountability Report.)
Forest Stewardship Assistance: Acres of private forest lands with forest stewardship plans
Farmland Conservation: Acres in conservation land retirement programs under state and federal farmland programs
Prairie Stewardship Assistance: Number of prairie stewardship plans; number of prairie management projects
Prairie Wetland Complexes: Acres of prairie wetlands and grasslands protected annually
Brushland Habitat Conservation: Number of landscapes designated as priority open landscape areas, number of brushland management projects implemented, and acres managed
Shoreland Habitat Conservation: Amount of lakeshore habitat restored
Wetlands Conservation: Net change in Minnesota wetland acres
are scheduled to be eligible for release by 2012. With commodity prices high, private landowners may expand crop production rather than re-enroll lands in conservation programs.