Forest Management Planning Sections

The DNR is currently updating its Section Forest Resource Management Plans (SFRMPs). When the update process is complete, there will be one plan for each of the seven forested Ecological Sections in the state. These plans will cover larger areas of the state than the previous planning system, which divided the state's forested areas into 10 smaller geographic units.

Section Forest Resource Management Plans complement the DNR's strategic forest resource management direction and 10-year stand exam list (covering fiscal years 2021-2030) by providing guidance to advance landscape-level goals within each Ecological Section. The updated plans will guide vegetation management on DNR-administered lands in each section until they are revised again, which happens approximately every 10 years.

The plans for five Ecological Sections within Minnesota are now available for public comment through Oct. 23, 2023, and we invite your input. The draft plans for the Aspen Parklands, Minnesota and Northeast Iowa Moraines, Minnesota Drift and Lake Plains, Paleozoic Plateau, and Western Superior Uplands Sections can be viewed or downloaded at their web pages.

Additional information on the plan revision status for individual SFRMPs can be found in the table below and on the webpage for each SFRMP.

Planning unit boundary changes

Click to enlarge

Original SFRMP boundaries

Original boundaries

Click to enlarge

Revised SFRMP Boundaries (outlined in red) compared to former SFRMP Boundaries (colored areas). DNR Administrative Regions are outlined in blue.

Revised boundaries

Section Forest Resource Management plan timelines

New forest management plan areas

Old forest management plan areas

Expected year plan revision will begin

Aspen Parklands

Aspen Parklands

2022

Northern Minnesota and Ontario Peatlands

Agassiz Lowlands

Plan revision in progress

North 4 (part)

Northern Superior Uplands

Border Lakes

Plan revision in progress

North Shore Area

North 4 (part)

Northern Minnesota Drift and Lake Plains

Chippewa Plains-Pine Moraines & Outwash Plains

Plan revision in progress

North 4 (part)

Western Superior Uplands

Mille Lacs Uplands

Plan revision in progress

Minnesota and Northeast Iowa Moraines

Hardwood Hills

Plan revision in progress

Anoka Sand Plain

Paleozoic Plateau

Blufflands-Rochester Plateau

2022

Back to top