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Minnesota Forest Resource Fact Sheet
Forrest Boe, State Forester
Fiscal Year 2015
Phone: 651-259-5615
Web: www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/index.html
Fax: 651-296-5954
E-mail: [email protected]
Investment in State's Cooperative Programs
FY 2014
Final
$1,291,969
$632,800
$352,483
$40,000
$2,317,252
Cooperative Fire Protection
Cooperative Forestry
Forest Health Management
Forest Legacy and Community Forestry
Total
This funding is for all entities within the state, not just the State Forester's office.
Key Issues
Improving forest health, productivity, and resiliency to help meet future forest resources demand: adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change,
invasive species, and maintaining water quality and quantity.
Adapting forest management practices and systems to emerging markets for woody biomass and carbon credits.
Minimizing the breakup of former industrial forests into small parcels that are sold to nonindustrial owners and converted to non-timber uses.
Multi-agency and landowner cooperation to address forest management and wildfire suppression in light of higher costs and smaller budgets.
Forest Facts and Accomplishments
Selected Facts
Population
Acres of Forest Land
Acres of Nonindustrial Private Forest Land
Number of NIPF Landowners
Acres of Federal Land Under State Fire Protection
Acres of Private Land Under State Fire Protection
Number of Rural Fire Departments
Cities and Towns
Forest Based Employment
Economic Impact of Forestry (by rank)
State Forestry Budget (All Sources)
5,303,925
17,370,394
6,467,000
202,000
0
45,037,000
748
854
39,867
4
39,000,000
Selected FY 2014 Accomplishments
Landowners Receiving Educational or Technical Assistance
(Each)
Acres Covered by New or Revised Forest Stewardship Plans
Acres in Important Forest Resource Areas Covered by New or
Revised Stewardship Plans
Volunteer Fire Departments Assisted (Each)
State Fire Communities Assisted (Each)
Coop Forest Health Acres Protected
Forest Legacy Project Acquisitions (Acres)
Communities Provided Urban Forestry Program Assistance
(Each)
Population Living in Communities Provided Urban Forestry
Program Assistance (Each)
Urban Forestry Volunteer Assistance (Hours)
3,803
41,653
31,468
250
216
52,778
0
216
3,635,188
51,260
Program Highlights:
Cooperative Fire Protection
The National Fire Plan aided in hazardous fuels reduction on 300 acres near high-risk communities. The state trained 225 local firefighters, while 225
volunteer fire departments received grants for equipment and training. State-distributed fire equipment to departments through the DOD Fire Fighter Property
program acquisitions totaled $1,715,992.
Forest Health Protection
This is the fifteenth year of an outbreak of eastern larch beetle. It is estimated that tamarack mortality has occurred on more than 21.5% of the tamarack
acreage in the state. Minnesota treated gypsy moth on almost 53,000 acres including almost 1,900 acres on the Superior National Forest, under the Slow
the Spread Program, reducing spread rates by at least 60%. Cook and Lake counties were the first to fall under GM quarantine regulations in 2014. Bur oak
blight (BOB) is considered to be a native but newly identified disease of bur oak. Wet spring weather patterns over the past decade have allowed annual
development of the disease which has resulted in the decline and sometimes death of individual trees. Surveys have confirmed 74 of 87 counties to be
positive for BOB.
Forest Legacy
The State’s order on conservation easement stewardship established two teams to provide support to Conservation Easement activities. The first is the
Conservation Easement Stewardship Team to create consistent, Department-wide policy and guidance for the effective stewardship of protected properties.
The second is the Enforcement Advisory Panel, comprised of staff of the Divisions that administer conservation easements.
Landowner Assistance
The state forestry agency is partnering with NRCS, US Forest Service, other state and local partners to develop a new service delivery modal for providing
technical services to private forest landowners. The model engages landowners with varying levels of forest knowledge or interest at activity levels they find
comfortable, with opportunities to increase activity over time. Partner buy-in allows better coordination and delivery of technical services and educational
opportunities to better meet the needs of diverse forest landowners.
Urban and Community Forestry
In its fifth year, the Community Engagement and Preparedness Program serves over 30 communities statewide. It engages citizens in programs including
tree surveys, the Citizen Pruner program, and gravel bed construction and maintenance as a low-cost way to buy and hold trees for later planting. In
addition, 10 monthly forums were offered with topics ranging from pollinators to violent wind-loading events. 450 people attended these free opportunities to
share information on a monthly basis.
Wood Education & Resource Center
UM's Natural Resources Research Institute is studying thermally-modified wood by tracking performance through demonstration decks in MN, WI and LA.
State Wood Energy Team encourages use of woody biomass for energy. Grand Marais and FVB Energy of St. Paul completed an analysis of installing a
district energy system to serve the community. The WERC Wood Energy Technical Assistance Team and partners are evaluating the use of wood energy in
facilities in Ely. The Team has completed a preliminary evaluation and identified two projects involving multiple buildings.
Northeastern Area S&PF, USDA Forest Service
Last Updated: May 5, 2015
Tony Ferguson, Director
E-mail: [email protected] | Phone: 610-557-4103 | FAX: 610-557-4177 | WEB: http://www.na.fs.fed.us