Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Governor signs Legacy Amendment Legislation

Last Friday Governor Pawlenty gave Minnesotans something extra special to celebrate by signing into law a bill authorizing $36 million to purchase a conservation easement for the Upper Mississippi Forest Project. Together with the $7 million from Blandin Foundation and $2 million from the Mellon Foundation, the project is now fully funded, permanently protecting over 187,000 acres of working forest land from parcelization and ensuring public access forever.

I’ve attached a map of the project area below, and here’s a link to how the story played in the Grand Rapids Herald Review (the UMF coverage starts with “Some Bright Spots”).

Local lawmakers are hailing the bill as a great achievement for Minnesota. Representative Tom Anzelc said the project “preserves and protects a whole culture and way of life for northern Minnesotans,” and Senator Tom Saxhaug notes that it preserves jobs related to timber harvesting.

This enthusiasm is shared by others across the state. Executive Director of Conservation Minnesota, Paul Austin, who lobbied hard for the amendment, was quoted in Minnpost last Wednesday as calling the project a “great marquee item to have happen right out of the box and hopefully it will be followed by 24 years of similar projects,” and legislative watchers have quoted LOHC members as referring to it as their “signature project.”

A great beginning for a new era of conservation for our state!

 

Blandin Foundation commits $7 million to The Conservation Fund for Upper Mississippi Forest Project

photo by John Connelly

Today I am delighted to share with VFVC Blog readers the news that Blandin Foundation Trustees have approved a $7 million grant to The Conservation Fund for the Upper Mississippi Forest project.

Full details are outlined in the news release below.

This action is in direct support of our VFVC objective to maintain Minnesota’s forest resource base and reduce losses caused by conversion, parcelization, and fragmentation of private lands and disposal of public lands. It aslo responds to the recognition by our partners including MFRC, MFRP and the Governor’s Task Force on Competitiveness of Minnesota’s Primary Forest Products Industry that fragmentation as the number one challenge to Minnesota’s forests.

News Release

Contact:
Cathy Kennedy, The Conservation Fund, (612) 309-3951
Allison Rajala Ahcan, Blandin Foundation, (218) 259-2893

BLANDIN FOUNDATION COMMITS $7 MILLION
TO THE CONSERVATION FUND
FOR UPPER MISSISSIPPI FOREST PROJECT

Donation Supports a Broad Effort to Keep Significant Expanse of Forest Intact; R.K. Mellon Foundation Also Commits $2 Million

Grand Rapids (April 1, 2009) – Demonstrating its commitment to strengthening Minnesota communities, the board of trustees of the Grand Rapids-based Blandin Foundation has approved a $7 million grant for the Upper Mississippi Forest project.

The grant will be made to The Conservation Fund, which is helping facilitate the transaction between Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the landowner, UPM/Blandin Paper Company. If the Minnesota Legislature approves the Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council’s recommendations to fund the balance of the costs, the Upper Mississippi Forest conservation easement will become the largest public access recreational area in the state of Minnesota, protecting the land against forest fragmentation.

“The Upper Mississippi Forest conservation easement will help protect the jobs of more than 3,200 families who rely upon this land remaining a working forest for their livelihoods, and hundreds of others who make a living in related businesses,” said Jim Hoolihan, Blandin Foundation president.

“Plus, the conservation easement will keep nearly 188,000 acres of Minnesota’s North Woods open for enjoyment by all and permanently protect forest habitats, creating a legacy that will live forever. By helping to secure this forest heritage project, the Blandin Foundation underscores its roots and invests in a natural asset that will contribute to our region and our state forever.”

Earlier this month, the Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council recommended $20 million for the Upper Mississippi Forest as the first of two years’ allocations of funds that will be generated under the Clean Water, Land and Legacy constitutional amendment, which was overwhelmingly approved by Minnesota voters in November 2008. The Minnesota Legislature is now considering the recommendations of the Council.

In addition to the Blandin Foundation gift, The Conservation Fund, which is helping negotiate the working forest easement, also announced a $2 million gift from the R. K. Mellon Foundation, bringing the total private contributions to $9 million.
“The Blandin Foundation’s commitment to the Upper Mississippi Forest project is the largest private donation for a conservation project ever made in this state,” said Tom Duffus, Upper Midwest Director of The Conservation Fund. “The Blandin Foundation and R.K. Mellon Foundation gifts create a true public-private funding base for this project that will significantly stretch public dollars and enable the Outdoor Heritage Fund to complete this purchase in a timely way and fund other worthy projects around the state.”

The Conservation Fund intends to re-grant the foundations’ contributions to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources when the DNR closes on the transaction with UPM, Duffus said. The DNR’s Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council application indicated some $48 million are needed for the Upper Mississippi Forest project.

At 187,277 acres, the Upper Mississippi Forest lands combine with adjacent county, state and federal lands to create more than 4,000 square miles of uninterrupted forest habitat. The forestlands lie primarily in Itasca, Aitkin, St. Louis, Koochiching, Cass and Beltrami counties.

Owned and managed by UPM/Blandin Paper Company (unrelated to the foundation by a similar name), the forest project includes 60,000 acres of wetlands and more than 280 miles of lake and stream frontage. The proposed working forest conservation easement would be held and monitored by the DNR and would permit sustainable forest management and timber harvesting; public access for hiking, hunting, fishing and other recreational activities; and provide wildlife habitat protection. The project also will protect wetlands and water quality in the upper watershed and primary tributaries to the Mississippi River.

“The Conservation Fund’s work to bring private dollars to the table to move this project forward signifies the importance of conserving these forestlands for all to enjoy while maintaining the economic viability of the region,” said DNR Commissioner Mark Holsten. “The substantial gift by the Blandin Foundation demonstrates the foresight by local community leadership to leave this North Woods legacy for future generations.”

The Upper Mississippi Forest project is supported by statewide conservation, recreational and environmental organizations; and in the Grand Rapids area, some 20 business, local government and conservation entities have endorsed the Forest Legacy Program.

UPM Blandin Paper issued this statement about progress on the negotiations:

“UPM Blandin Paper is in serious discussions with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources regarding a conservation easement project on UPM’s 188,000 acres of forest land in Minnesota. A successful project is one in which the parties can reach agreement on an acceptable easement, price and a schedule for timely closing. UPM Blandin Paper is committed to working on a solution that would require sustainable management of the property as it is today, regardless of who may own the property in the future.”

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About the Blandin Foundation
Based in Grand Rapids, Minn., the Blandin Foundation works to strengthen rural Minnesota communities, especially the Grand Rapids area, through grants, leadership development programs and public policy initiatives. http://www.blandinfoundation.org

About The Conservation Fund
The Conservation Fund is dedicated to advancing America’s land and water legacy. With our partners, we conserve land, train leaders and invest in conservation at home. Since 1985, we have helped protect more than 6 million acres, sustaining wild havens, working lands and vibrant communities. We’re a top-ranked conservation organization, effective and efficient. http://www.conservationfund.org

 

Upper Mississippi Forest Conservation Easement Map

Thanks to William Harper for asking that we post a map of the proposed Upper Mississippi Forest Easement. Here it is.

Thank you!

Upper Mississippi Forest Easement map, taken from Forest Protection, Enhancement and Restoration in Minnesota, A Forest Collaborative Proposal to the Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council.

 

Report from the Trenches: LOHC Recommends Upper Mississippi Forest Conservation Easement for Funding

Thanks to TNC field representative Art Norton for submitting an eye-witness account of yesterday’s critical meeting of the Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council at the state capital.

Art has played a key role in securing local support for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to preserve a large tract of working forests in Itasca County with a conservation easement that would bind together over 292 sq miles of intact forests accessible to the public.

Here’s what Art had to say:

“Yesterday was another big step for Minnesota’s new dedicated funding program for natural resources protection. The Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council met all day in St. Paul and prioritized more than $68 million dollars worth of projects to restore and protect wetlands, prairies and forests.

And high on the list is the Upper Mississippi Forest project to maintain working forest, wildlife habitat and public access on almost 190,000 acres of forestland owned by UPM Blandin. In fact, it is top of the list in terms of funding, at $20,000,000 in this fiscal year, and another $20,000,000 allocated to finish the project in FY 2011. Important note: The Council deferred a final vote until next Monday due to some members’ concerns that “metro” area projects were underrepresented.”

The Star Tribune ran an article on the outcome Check it out for yourself. Look for the article titled, $68 million conservation wish list stalls at council By Doug Smith. The Pioneer Press ran a story too $40M urged to secure northern forest - By Dennis Lien.

Art encourages readers to check out the comments submitted by readers, along with the “agree-disagree” ratings of the Star Tribune readers. Consider adding your own voice to the debate.

 

Making the case for protecting our working forests

At the Blandin Foundation we care about promoting “rural voice” — helping ensure that rural perspectives are well represented in public discourse and strengthening the capacity of rural people to be their own voice.

MinnesotaBrown is the creation of Iron Range writer, college instructor and political organizer Aaron J. Brown

That’s why I pay attention to Minnesota Brown, Aaron Brown’s blog about life on the Iron Range. In his March 5 post, Who are the true owners of these lands, forests and waters?, Aaron makes a compelling case for why forests are so central Minnesota’s identity and future, and why the Upper Mississippi Forest conservation easement project on UPM lands – which Aaron calls a “once in a lifetime” opportunity — is so important to our future.

I urge you to read it and pass it on. And check out the comments too. As one contributor writes: “This is an issue that will have an impact in our lifetime, and will become even greater for our children. If action is not taken now, much stands to be lost.”

 

USFS adds Sugar Hills to its Legacy Program video series

The USFS Forest Legacy Program Video Project was designed to illustrate the diversity of its forest conservation projects as well as the robust and innovative partnerships that are critical to the program’s success.

In 2008, the USFS was in our neck of the woods filming for its Forest Legacy Program Video Project. I recently checked their website, and was delighted to see that their Sugar Hills video has been posted.

Here’s the intro on their website:

Minnesota’s Sugar Hills is a wonderful example of how recreation and sustainable forestry can come together as a community building initiative. This property is part of a local family run timber business. The property owners already were allowing public access for hiking and cross-country skiing so when the Rajala family came across the Forest Legacy Program, they new it would be a good fit for them and the people who enjoy visiting Sugar Hills. The State of Minnesota used FLP funds as well as funds form several partners to purchase a permanent conservation easement on the property.

And the link to the video: Sugar Hills Forest Legacy

Check it out – it’s a great story!

 

Minnesota Forest Legacy Partnership Wins MEI Award

While some Minnesota Forest Legacy Partners were in Ontario on the Canadian leg of the Seeing the Trees AND the Forest productivity tour, others gathered Thursday night at the Nicollet Island Pavilion in Minneapolis for the 15th annual Minnesota Environmental Initiative Award Ceremony. The Partnership won the Natural Resource Protection and Restoration award. Peggy Ladner of The Nature Conservancy accepted the award on behalf of the Partnership. A complete listing of nominees and winners is avaiable at MEI’s website.

Click here to listen to Blandin Foundation president and CEO Jim Hoolihan post-event podcast and learn more about the Minnesota Forest Legacy Partnership.

 

Koochiching Forest Legacy Project gets $3.5M Boost

Good news!

Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment Mark Rey was in Minnesota today to announce along with DNR Commissioner Mark Holsten that the Koochiching Forest Legacy Project will receive nearly $3.5 million in federal dollars. This Phase II funding will be used towards adding roughly 38,000 acres to the initial 51,000 Forest Capital Partners easement closed in October 2007. A third phase is planned for 2009, bringing total acres of the Koochiching Forest Legacy Project to just under 128,000 acres – that’s close to 200 square miles!

Today’s Duluth News Tribune did a great job explaining the project and the concept of a working forest conservation easement:

Federal dollars will buy conservation easements in Koochiching, Itasca counties
BYDuluth News Tribune
March 31, 2008

Federal officials this morning will celebrate their installment of a public-private conservation effort to protect part of Minnesot’s north woods from development. Top U.S. Forest Service officials will be in St. Paul to herald a $3.5 million appropriation to buy conservation easements on undeveloped, privately-owned forest land in southern Koochiching and northern Itasca Counties.

It’s the second of three phases of the Koochiching Forest Legacy Program backed by state and federal agencies and private conservation groups in an effort to keep large tracts of contiguous forest from being sold, divided and developed.

The program has been praised for preserving the environmental benefits of undeveloped land, providing trees for local loggers and keeping land open to the public for hunting and hiking.

In December the News Tribune reported that the $3.5 million was included in Congress omnibus spending bill.

Last year the state sealed a deal to buy conservation easements on 51,163 acres in the area.

This year’s federal aid will add another 38,331 acres. The third phase is set for 2009 and will add another 38,300 acres.

When completed, some 127,794 acres ” nearly 200 square miles ” will be included in the project. Much of the land is in and near the Koochiching and George Washington state forests. It’s the largest such forest land conservation effort state history.

The forest parcels once were owned by Boise Cascade Corp. and were managed for decades as wild land to provide trees for the company’s mills. It now is owned by Forest Capital Partners which makes money by holding and selling land as a real estate investment to be developed.

Under the forest legacy program, Forest Capital Partners will be paid for the conservation easements. The company will continue to own the land and pay property taxes, but the state will hold the legally binding easements that prevent the land from being sold or developed.

The company will continue to manage the land for forestry and sell trees to be cut by loggers, providing continued wood for the region’s mills.

In addition, the land will remain open to public access like deer hunting, berry picking and hiking.

While northern Minnesota has large tracts of federal, state and county-managed public lands, half of the state’s forests are privately owned. That land is rapidly rising in value and is being sold for recreation and retirement homes at a breakneck pace.

Keeping large tracts of private forest undeveloped is considered a critical issue for many of the region’s wildlife, including birds, which tend to leave areas where new roads, homes and cabins are built. The private parcels in the program often help form connections or corridors to large public tracts.

In addition to the U.S. Forest Service and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Blandin Foundation, Conservation Fund and Trust for Public Land are involved in the effort with Forest Capital Partners.

Similar efforts to use conservation easements to keep forested private land undeveloped have been struck in Lake County, southern Itasca County near Grand Rapids and in Crow Wing County near Brainerd.

 

Tackling Parcelization in Itasca County: New Options for Family Woodlot Owners

Minnesota Forest Resources Council Executive Director Dave Zumeta told participants at a recent MFRC-landscape committee summit here in Grand Rapids that parcelization remains at the top of the list of forest policy challenges facing Minnesota.

VFVC blog readers surely are aware of the Minnesota Forest Legacy Partnership, created to address this challenge. To date the Partnership has concluded two major easements, Sugar Hills and the Koochiching-Washington Forest Project.

Community celebrations of the new Kooch-Washington conservation easement in Grand Rapids on Feb 1-2 included a dinner to thank Forest Capital Partners, the landowner, and a 60 mile snowmobile ride through the industrial forestlands now in conservation easement under this agreement.

Meanwhile, across town from Dave and the MFRC meeting, community members braved the bitter cold and dark of an early January morning to learn about an innovative new family-scale opportunity to address the parcelization threat to forests in Itasca County. On behalf of her visionary Board of Directors, Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation (GRACF) Executive Director Wendy Roy described GRACF’s new Itasca County Area Forest Legacy Fund.

Inspired by the Minnesota Forest Legacy Partnership, this new fund is designed as a tool to help family woodlot owners keep their private forestlands intact and build their own forest legacies for the future. The fund also will be used to raise awareness about the importance of forest stewardship. The GRACF will use the services of the Minnesota Land Trust to craft, monitor, and hold the easements in perpetuity. For more information, contact the fund at: info@gracf.org or 218/327-8855.

 

It started with a handshake

At last week’s community celebration of the newly signed working forest easement on Sugar Hills – 1,660 acres of unique northern hardwood forests – Senator Tom Saxhaug reminisced to the crowd about the handshake deal he made years ago as county commissioner with Jack Rajala that sealed the Rajala company’s commitment to the people of Itasca County to be good stewards of that special tract.

Lots of hometown folks including Elmer Cone, Mark Johnson, John Almendinger, Catherine McLynn, Bud Stone, and foundation trustees Marian Barcus, Jim Benson, and Mike Johnson — to name just a few with whom I had a chance to visit — and some big wigs from St. Paul and DC — like DNR Commissioner Mark Holsten, Congressman Jim Oberstar, and USDA Undersecretary Mark Rey — came out to the site, meticulously maintained in the winter by the Northern Light Noridic Ski Club, and on this summer day beautifully decked out with a tent and banners by a host of volunteers under the able direction of Trust for Public Land’s Becca Nash.

In his remarks, Rajala Companies President John Rajala told the audience the story of how Becca and her colleagues at TPL, and other members of the Forest Legacy Partnership, had worked doggedly with him and his family to craft the working forest easement that will allow the Rajalas to make good on Jack’s handshake in perpetuity. Jim Oberstar reached for lyricism when he told the crowd that their success in protecting this forest was a beacon for a better future.

It was a beautiful celebration of a visionary and successful public-private partnership on a beautiful day in a beautiful woods, graced by good fellowship, good feelings, and, at the end, by the sweet sound of voices lifted together in song as Mary and Don LaPlant offered musical accompaniment to America the Beautiful.

TNC’s Itasca Field Representative Art Norton led tours afterwards. If you weren’t able to be with us, email Art if you’d like to arrange your own tour.

It was a great day for Itasca Co., for Minnesota, and for future Minnesotans. I know that for sure because TNC’s Tom Landwehr took a call while at the podium from our future generations – calling to register their thanks.