Nature Conservancy Applauds Partner Leadership, Vision for Historic Commitment to Wildlife Management Areas, Forestland Conservation

MINNEAPOLIS, MN—October 7, 2006--The Nature Conservancy applauded a coalition of state legislators, community leaders and conservationists for their vision and leadership in spearheading the efforts to allocate $21.5 million to conserve Minnesota’s natural resources. In recognition of their work, the Conservancy will present each member with its 2006 Government Relations Award, recognizing outstanding leadership for government policy and funding to conserve native plants and animals.

The coalition worked hard to ensure a legislative commitment—approved in the 2006 bonding bill and appropriation from the state Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund—to enable the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to acquire land for the state’s Wildlife Management Area system and to support the agency’s efforts to secure conservation easements on industrial timber land in the Itasca County region. The Legislature approved the funding in May, which allocates $7.5 million for conserving the state’s industrial forestland through conservation easements and directs another $14 million to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to acquire land for the state’s Wildlife Management Area system.

“We owe a great deal to our Legislative leaders, Governor Tim Pawlenty and several key conservation leaders for making history—$14 million is the largest amount ever allocated to acquire new Wildlife Management Areas,” said Peggy Ladner, The Nature Conservancy’s State Director. “This commitment to wildlife habitat and public access will ensure future generations have opportunities to hunt, fish and hike.”

WMAs protect critical wildlife habitat for both game and non-game species across Minnesota. Established in 1951, Minnesota's wildlife management system is regarded as one of the finest in the country, and plays a key role in preserving wildlife populations as well as benefiting all Minnesotans by providing outdoor recreation opportunities for hunting, fishing and wildlife watching.

In 2003, a Citizen Advisory Committee to the Department of Natural Resources recommended that Minnesota increase its efforts to protect wildlife habitat through the Wildlife Management Area system within the next 10 years. The citizen committee report noted that the need for wildlife habitat protection is becoming more and more urgent as Minnesota faces increased development in rural areas, continued loss of critical wildlife lands, and the escalating cost of land. To meet the needs these pressures and the needs of wildlife, the committee recommended accelerating habitat protection over the next decade by protecting an additional 210,000 acres.

Minnesota is facing serious threats from forest fragmentation as many large-scale private industrial forestland owners have put their land on the open market, putting timber-related jobs, public access and wildlife habitat at risk. Protecting large blocks of forestland conserves the vital connection between Minnesota’s healthy forest-based industries and healthy forest ecosystems. The state’s commitment is particularly beneficial because it will support the efforts of the Minnesota Forest Legacy Partnership to raise $26 million in private and public funds to secure these critical working forest easements.

“This is tremendous shot in the arm for conserving the state’s forests,” said Ladner. “Never before have Minnesotans seen this level of commitment from our state leaders.”

In recognition of the funding level for WMA acquisition and to conserve industrial forestland, the Conservancy applauded 11 partners. They are:

Funding for Forest Legacy:

Senator Tom Saxhaug (D – Grand Rapids) - Senator Saxhaug was the chief author of the Forest Legacy bonding bill in the Senate for 2006, but also served as chief author in 2004 and 2005.

Rep. Larry Howes (R - Walker) - Rep. Howes was the chief author of the Forest Legacy bonding bill in the House during 2006, but also served as chief author in 2004 and 2005.

Rep. Loren Solberg (D - Grand Rapids) - Rep. Solberg was a lead advocate for Forest Legacy funding in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

Brad Moore (Acting Commissioner, MN PCA, formerly Asst. Commissioner, MN DNR) - Mr. Moore was a leader in creating the MN Forest Legacy Partnership, and was instrumental in building support statewide for ensuring conservation of industrial forestland.

Dr. David Zumeta (Ex. Dir, MN Forest Resources Council) - Dr. Zumeta researched and testified at the legislature and Itasca County on the dramatic increases in the value of forest land, which is causing unprecedented shifts in private land ownership.

Mark Johnson (Ex. Dir., MN Deer Hunters Association) - Mr. Johnson was one of the first sportsmen to recognize how public access and wildlife habitat was threatened by development and subdivision, and strongly advocated for immediate state funding to abate these threats. He played a critical role in building early support for encouraging state funds for conservation easements on industrial forestland. He provided critical testimony at the Capitol that focused on how changes in private forest land ownership has had a negative impact on public access and recreation, and why wildlife requires large blocks of habitat.

Bud Stone (President, Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce) - Mr. Stone initiated the first local resolutions by business leaders in Itasca County and across northeastern Minnesota for state action to conserve working forest land from development. He also submitted a poignant op-ed to the local Grand Rapids paper that heralded the need for Forest Legacy funding because of its positive economic impacts.

Wildlife Management Area Funding:

Rep. Erik Paulsen (R – Eden Prairie) - Rep. Paulsen is the House Majority Leader and was the chief House author of the WMA acquisition bill for the past three years, in 2004, 2005 and 2006, and was a tireless advocate for conserving habitat for future generations.

Senator Dallas Sams (D – Staples) - Senator Sams is the Chair of the Senate Environment Finance Committee. He was the chief Senate author of WMA acquisition bill for the past three years -- in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

Rep. Laura Brod (R – New Prague) - Rep. Brod was an early supporter WMA Acquisition bill. She was also a member of the capital investment conference committee and worked hard to ensure this historic funding level.

Rep. Dennis McNamara (R- Hastings) - Rep. McNamara was a member of the Capital Investment Conference Committee and was the driving force behind funding WMA Acquisition at $14 million in 2006 and $10 million in 2005.