Minnesota Forest Legacy Program
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Purpose of the Forest Legacy Program
The Minnesota Forest Legacy program uses federal funds and/or state funds to purchase permanent conservation easements that restrict development and other uses of the property in order to protect private forestland in targeted areas of Minnesota so these forested areas remain intact and continue to provide important forest benefits. The landowner retains ownership and can continue forest uses such as timber management, recreation, hunting, and hiking. All easements are perpetual and any new owner is bound by the terms of the easement.
Why Participate? – It's All Your Choice
This program is geared to landowners who would like to assure that forests on their property are protected from development. The landowner chooses whether to participate or not. Participating landowners choose which parts of their property are included. Each landowner also chooses whether to accept a cash payment or donate all or some of the appraised value of a conservation easement. Traditional forest uses of the property can continue under the guidance of a Forest Stewardship Plan.
What Land Is Eligible?
Part 1. Location
To participate in Forest Legacy your land must be within one of Minnesota's active Forest Legacy Areas. These areas include Brainerd Lakes/Walker, Lower St. Croix, North Duluth, Rice County Big Woods, Grand Rapids, and Wabasha BlufflandsForest Legacy Areas. Additional Forest Legacy Areas will likely be activated in Koochiching County and Lake County during fall 2008. Email Richard Peterson or call at 507-333-2012 for specific property eligibility questions.Part 2. Acreage and Forest Cover
To participate in Forest Legacy, the proposed easement area should be at least 20 acres in size and at least 90 percent forested or planned to be forested. Any type of forest land – whether natural or planted – is eligible.
What’s the Timeline and Process?
- Anytime
- Landowners with eligible/priority lands should complete and submit an application. The deadline for consideration for Federal Fiscal 2011 projects is September 30, 2009.
- Anytime sooner is better
- Landowners with eligible land are encouraged to obtain a Forest Stewardship Plan if the land to be enrolled does not have a current Forest Stewardship Plan.
- Ongoing
- DNR staff will work with prospective applicants to complete their applications and negotiate a draft conservation easement.
- October 2009
- The State will work with the State Forest Stewardship Committee to select the top three Federal Forest Legacy projects and submit them to the USDA Forest Service for consideration for 2010 federal funding. Projects not selected for Federal funding consideration may still be funded with State funding.
- Fall 2010
- Landowners will be notified if their project was selected for Federal FY2010 funding.
Landowners interested in conserving their forests are invited to participate in the Forest Legacy Program. The Department of Natural Resources- Division of Forestry is currently accepting applications 
for funding consideration through the Federal Forest Legacy Program 
.
Applications should be submitted to:
Richard Peterson, Forest Legacy Coordinator
1810-30th St. Northwest
Faribault, MN 55021
Phone: 507-333-2012 x 222
E-mail: richard.f.peterson@state.mn.us
Equal opportunity to participate and benefit from programs of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is available to all individuals regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, age, sexual orientation, membership or activity in a local commission, or disability. Discrimination inquiries should be sent to MN-DNR, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4031; or the Equal Opportunity Office, Dept. of Interior, Washington, DD 20240. This information is available in an alternate format to individuals with disabilities by calling 651-296-6157 (Metro Area) or 1-888-MINNDNR (MN Toll Free) or Telecommunication Device for the Deaf/TTY651-296-5484 (Metro Area) or 1-800-657-3929 (Toll Free TTY).