Managing your state land holdings
The DNR manages 5.6 million acres of state land on behalf of the citizens of Minnesota and is continually working to improve its land portfolio. DNR regularly evaluates the state's land holdings and looks for ways to improve habitat, conservation, and recreation. The agency strives to reduce land-management costs and find efficiencies.
State land management goals
- Increase close-to-home outdoor recreation opportunities
- Protect significant and/or rare natural resources
- Protect and restore water resources
- Mitigate and adapt to climate change
- Expand access to existing land holdings
- Consolidate land ownership, creating larger, contiguous blocks of DNR lands
DNR uses a detailed set of criteria to determine whether a proposed acquisition meets our SLAM acquisition goals.
Strategies we use
- Hold and manage lands that meet public recreation or conservation needs.
- Exchange lands with partners to consolidate and reduce the number of isolated parcels.
- Sell lands when they no longer meet conservation or recreation purposes and reinvest the income in better lands.
- Purchase new lands from willing sellers that meet state land-management goals.
We use these strategies in consultation with DNR staff, local government officials and others. The DNR's goal is to ensure public lands meet the recreational needs of Minnesota's citizens; continue to provide clean air and water, support natural resource-based economies, and maintain habitat for fish and wildlife.
Land exchange example
These maps illustrate how land exchanges between counties and the state could help reduce the number of isolated parcels, simplify boundaries, and create larger blocks of land to allow for improved habitat and timber management.
The DNR and counties manage state lands
DNR and county-managed lands
8.4 million acres
DNR-managed lands by land type
5.6 million acres
Questions? Please contact:
Kerstin Larson, Planning Director
[email protected]
651-259-5621