Agreement Narrative: Moose Habitat Collaborative, Phase IV – NE MN Forest Habitat Enhancement
Primary Funder: Minnesota Outdoor Heritage Fund through Lessard Sams Outdoor Heritage CouncilÂ
Location: NE Minnesota- Cook, Lake and Saint Louis CountiesÂ
Innovation: A landscape scale forest habitat enhancement project which primarily focuses on enhancement of moose habitat needs, where individual projects within the large landscape focus area are proposed, vetted and then implemented through partners in the collaborative group. Treatments are primarily focused on increasing forest age, species and spatial diversity at large scales which also deliberately and incidentally accomplish spruce grouse, ruffed grouse, American woodcock and forest health objectives. These treatments are coordinated with independent commercial timber sales in attempts to compliment the large patch size habitat objectives. Â
Impact: Stabilize/sustain Minnesota’s moose population by enhancing ~8,000 acres of cover/forage habitat for moose, which will primarily be accomplished through mixed density/ cover type forest regeneration treatments. Â
Completed To-Date (2/15/24):Â
- 390,621 trees plantedÂ
- 2,734.4 acres planted or seededÂ
- 1,010 acres site preparation completedÂ
- 2,987.7 acres budcapping completedÂ
- 2,298.6 acres of trees released/ browse productionÂ
- 490 acres prescribed burnÂ
Partners: Primary implementation partners include The Nature Conservancy, Superior National Forest, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Lake County, Saint Louis County. Additional involved Collaborative partners include University of Minnesota Duluth Natural Resources Research Institute, 1854 Treaty Authority and Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. MN Land Legacy Logo needs to be included in all communications.
