This summer, with support from the Minnesota Outdoor Heritage Fund, the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council and other conservation partners, RGS & AWS successfully acquired and transferred two 80-acre strategic forestland inholdings to public agencies that manage sustainable forest lands.
The two parcels – one in northeast Aitkin County and another in southeast Lake County – were private inholdings within the Savanna State Forest and Lake County Forestry lands, respectively.
The Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council (LSOHC) was established by the Minnesota Legislature to recommend annual funding allocations from the Outdoor Heritage Fund (OHF) to restore, protect and enhance Minnesota’s wetlands, prairies, forests and habitat for fish, game and wildlife. Leveraging this funding with RGS & AWS resources allowed the organization to work with public and private forest and wildlife habitat managers to evaluate strategic opportunities and acquire these important parcels.
RGS & AWS members know that consolidating forestland ownership can improve management access and efficiency, landscape-scale management and ecological connectivity, as well as public hunting opportunities. This program and these parcels were strategically identified to achieve those goals.
Lake County Land Commissioner Nate Eide said Lake County appreciates this acquisition effort, as it benefits residents and users of county forest lands by providing a contiguous area that improves timber harvesting, economic and ecological efficiency, and recreation opportunities. Eide said the county will manage the land under its countywide management plan for sustainable, multiple-use objectives. Similarly, Minnesota DNR Area Forest Supervisor Brian Leitinger said the parcel acquired within Savanna State Forest will be managed sustainably under the Minnesota Drift and Lake Plain Section Forest Management Plan.
Before acquisition, both parcels limited efficient forest management and recreation opportunities. Consolidating them will allow for ecologically guided, landscape-scale forest age-class diversity and create excellent ruffed grouse habitat and hunting opportunities.
Finding, vetting and approving potential parcels for acquisition takes tremendous effort from forest and wildlife management agencies. In addition to the OHF and LSOHC, the Lake and Aitkin County boards of commissioners, county land departments, and the Minnesota DNR divisions of Forestry, Lands and Minerals, and Wildlife all engaged to help make this process happen.
Public-private real estate transactions also require specialized skill and strategy. RGS & AWS was fortunate to work with The Conservation Fund staff in Minnesota, who brought both experience and expertise. These agencies, managers and partners are dedicated to sustainable forest management and work every day to balance diverse goals and objectives. They understand that active, deliberate management is essential to maintaining healthy, functioning forests that provide homes for wildlife and opportunities for people to enjoy them. RGS & AWS thanks all partners for their engagement, assistance, support and funding. This program will continue to seek opportunities to improve sustainable forest management through strategically important properties – and continued collaboration will be key.
