Natural Resources

Forest Management

Statewide Outcome(s):

Forest Management supports the following statewide outcome(s).

A thriving economy that encourages business growth and employment opportunities.

A clean, healthy environment with sustainable uses of natural resources.

The program operates under the principle that economic prosperity depends on a healthy environment and sustainable use of natural resources.

Context:

Forest management is the job of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Forestry. The division helps sustain Minnesota’s quality of life by improving the productivity, health, diversity, accessibility, and use of forests, which are natural assets that will depreciate if not properly managed. The forest products industry relies on a sustainable state timber supply to survive. In turn, the industry provides jobs and millions of dollars of indirect economic benefits to Minnesota. Well managed forests also provide economic benefits from tourism and outdoor recreation. In addition, a healthy forest provides environmental benefits by supporting clean water, wildlife habitat and biodiversity. To ensure a healthy, vibrant, and competitive Minnesota into the future, the DNR and partners must actively manage the state’s forests to enhance their utility.

·         Minnesota needs healthy forests for a sustainable supply of high-quality wood fiber that will sustain industry and associated jobs into the future.

·         Forests are needed to ensure that landscapes remain productive, ecologically healthy, and beautiful in the face of conservation challenges, such as wildfires, land-use and climate changes, invasive species and insects and diseases.

·         Society needs forests to pass on an outdoor heritage because forests are a cornerstone for connecting citizens to the great outdoors.

Funding sources include general fund and natural resources fund, with a lesser amount of dedicated funds for specific activities within this category from the Heritage Enhancement Account, federal grants, and special revenue sources (http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/aboutdnr/budget/fy12-13/budget_spent.pdf) see pages 7-10.

Strategies:

The Division of Forestry:

·         Provides leadership in forest management and policy development aimed at ensuring all Minnesota forest lands (public and private) are sustained and enhanced into the future

·         Manages 4.2 million acres of DNR-administered forest lands for a sustainable supply of forest resources (as defined in Minnesota Statutes section 89.001) including quality timber, abundant wildlife habitat and populations, outdoor recreation, clean water, and biological diversity

·         Collaborates with other forest landowners and natural resource professionals to keep working forests forested and actively managed

·         Supports the commercial use and public enjoyment of forest resources by maintaining public access, forest roads, and recreational trails

·         Manages School Trust lands consistent with goals for the Permanent School Trust Fund

Results:

The following performance measures represent a subset of outcomes for the forest management program. Key factors that influence desired outcomes include:

·         Gaining a competitive edge in global markets: Minnesota competes with other states as well as globally for forest industry investment. The industry needs a sustainable supply of wood in the state to survive. While the division has increased the amount of wood sold and harvested during the past five year period compared to the previous five year period, the value received for the wood has decreased significantly due to market conditions. Forest products mill closures and reduced timber supply from private lands compound market pressures on state resources. Unpredictable and often volatile timber sales revenue challenges division operations. Because the division relies on revenues from timber sales to support its operations, as revenue from timber harvest and other state funding declines, the amount of forest management the division can accomplish each year is strained. This impacts forest management outcomes on both state and private lands, in turn impacting an already stressed industry. In addition, commercial timber harvest is a low cost way to manage the forest for wildlife habitat and ecological health. The DNR does not have the funds to actively conduct the timber work itself so it relies on commercial harvest to get much of this work done. DNR also manages for Forest Certification on 4.8 million acres of state forest lands to help maintain the market competitiveness of Minnesota’s forest industry. Strong investment in the division’s operations is needed to help sustain forest resources and jobs in Minnesota and ensure we can continue to manage our forests for wildlife and ecological benefits as well.

·         Enhancing working forests on private lands and responding to parcelization: The division’s Forest Stewardship Program works with non-industrial, private forest owners to encourage forest retention and sustainable management in the face of development pressure. Because private lands represent 40% of Minnesota’s forest ownership, and management activity on these lands is relatively low, the need to increase their contribution to forest landscape goals and to the forest economy is critical. Parcelization, the subdivision of land into smaller ownership parcels, is a phenomenon affecting private forest land across the nation and Minnesota. Forest land parcelization has adverse effects on timber availability, wildlife habitat, and recreational access. Division of Forestry’s leadership is key to working with private landowners to ensure private forest lands are maintained, well managed and can contribute to the state’s timber supply. This will ensure a healthy forest products industry with the ancillary environmental benefits a healthy forest provides.

·         Key management tools to ensure healthy forests and sustainable timber supply: An up-to-date inventory of state forest lands, including tree cover, size, age, and productivity, is essential to determine timber supply, sustainable management targets and forest industry research and development needs. The division also responds to forest threats by monitoring, detecting and analyzing various pests, diseases, and natural disasters via aerial surveys, evaluations, impact assessments, and treatments. DNR employs two primary forest inventory and analysis programs: Cooperative Stand Assessment (CSA), which is a stand management-level inventory of DNR forest lands; and Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA), a multi-agency strategic inventory across all forest land ownerships. DNR is pursuing a redesign of CSA to continue meeting user needs within projected budgets and alternative ways to fund FIA at a level sufficient to guide strategic decision making.

·         Incorporating scientific innovation into practice: DNR pursues innovative ways to enhance Minnesota’s forests. The division has created distinctive forest management guides based on Native Plant Communities data collected and analyzed by its staff. Management guides provide progressive science-based information that helps inform management decisions and meet the public demand for environmentally sound forest management.

Performance Measures Notes:

1.     Comparing annual average of FY 2003-FY 2007 to annual average of FY 2008-FY 2012. Only including new volumes not previously offered at auction.

2.     Comparing annual average of FY 2004-FY 2008 to annual average of FY 2009-FY 2012.

3.     Comparing FY 2006 to FY 2012. While DNR aerial surveys continue to cover the total 13 million acres of non-federal public and non-industrial private forest land statewide, the threats detected are increasing in frequency or severity.

4.     Comparing annual average of FY 2002-FY 2006 to annual average of FY 2007-FY 2011.

More information: Strategic Conservation Agenda: Performance and Accountability Report (http://www.mndnr.gov/conservation_agenda/performance)