blake
Life Member
NEWS!
Minnesota Lottery Funds Habitat Improvements
Saint Paul, Minnesota - Whether you win or lose playing the Minnesota State Lottery, Minnesota's natural resources always win. Minnesota's Habitat Conservation Partnership announces the completion of 32,334 acres of habitat improvements during the fourth phase of funding. Funds for these projects were provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources. Trust Fund dollars originate through the Minnesota State Lottery.
The partnership was first funded in 2001 by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources and participating partners. The partnership provides for a statewide coordination of existing federal, state and private land and water conservation programs. The project targets these programs and resources into identified project focus areas that have high potential for restoring and enhancing functional habitats benefiting wildlife in Minnesota.
"Once again, we have seen what strong conservation partnerships can achieve," said Matt Holland, project coordinator for the partnership and a senior field coordinator for Pheasants Forever. During the project period, partners leveraged $4.1 million dollars from the Environmental Trust Fund with over $11.8 million dollars of federal and private funds. Holland stated, "The partnership prides itself on using every Trust Fund dollar as a catalyst to do more high quality habitat work for Minnesota."
During the most recent project funding period, the partnership completed 14,845 acres of grassland enhancement and restoration, 100,000 feet of shoreline protection, 8,806 acres of wetland enhancement and restoration, and 91 acres of woodland restoration. In addition, the partnership worked with willing sellers to acquire 3,926 acres of perpetual conservation easements and 852 acres in fee-title. Since inception in 2001, the Partnership reports 145,868 acres in 1,095 wildlife habitat restoration, enhancement and protection projects for Minnesota. Total expenditures to date exceed $107 million dollars. A total of $24.5 million came from the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund and the remainder, $83.2 million, has come from the project partners.
"I am proud of the investments the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund has made to restore and protect habitat," said state Senator Jim Vickerman (DFL - Tracy). "As co-chair of the Legislative-Citizens Commission on Minnesota Resources, I have been impressed with the significant accomplishments of the Habitat Conservation Partnership and the ability to coordinate efforts and leverage additional resources for important projects."
Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF)
The ENRTF is a permanent fund in the Minnesota state treasury dedicated to funding activities that protect and enhance the state's air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources. The ENRTF was created in 1988 by voter approval of an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution. Money in the ENRTF originates from a combination of contributions and investment income. The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) makes annual project funding recommendations to the Minnesota legislature based on a competitive, multi-step proposal and selection process. For more information or for a list of LCCMR commission members go towww.lccmr.leg.mn.
Minnesota Habitat Conservation Partnership
The mission of Minnesota's Habitat Conservation Partnership is to restore, enhance, and conserve habitat for the purpose of sustaining fish, wildlife and native plant communities for all generations. Member Organizations include: Ducks Unlimited * Fond du Lac Reservation * Friends of the Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District * Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe * Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources * Minnesota Deer Hunters Association * Minnesota Department of Natural Resources * Minnesota Land Trust * Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund * Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc. * National Wild Turkey Federation * Pheasants Forever * Red Lake Band of Chippewa * The Nature Conservancy * Trust for Public Land * U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service * U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Contact:
Matt Holland (320) 354-4377 or [email protected].
Minnesota Lottery Funds Habitat Improvements
Saint Paul, Minnesota - Whether you win or lose playing the Minnesota State Lottery, Minnesota's natural resources always win. Minnesota's Habitat Conservation Partnership announces the completion of 32,334 acres of habitat improvements during the fourth phase of funding. Funds for these projects were provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources. Trust Fund dollars originate through the Minnesota State Lottery.
The partnership was first funded in 2001 by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources and participating partners. The partnership provides for a statewide coordination of existing federal, state and private land and water conservation programs. The project targets these programs and resources into identified project focus areas that have high potential for restoring and enhancing functional habitats benefiting wildlife in Minnesota.
"Once again, we have seen what strong conservation partnerships can achieve," said Matt Holland, project coordinator for the partnership and a senior field coordinator for Pheasants Forever. During the project period, partners leveraged $4.1 million dollars from the Environmental Trust Fund with over $11.8 million dollars of federal and private funds. Holland stated, "The partnership prides itself on using every Trust Fund dollar as a catalyst to do more high quality habitat work for Minnesota."
During the most recent project funding period, the partnership completed 14,845 acres of grassland enhancement and restoration, 100,000 feet of shoreline protection, 8,806 acres of wetland enhancement and restoration, and 91 acres of woodland restoration. In addition, the partnership worked with willing sellers to acquire 3,926 acres of perpetual conservation easements and 852 acres in fee-title. Since inception in 2001, the Partnership reports 145,868 acres in 1,095 wildlife habitat restoration, enhancement and protection projects for Minnesota. Total expenditures to date exceed $107 million dollars. A total of $24.5 million came from the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund and the remainder, $83.2 million, has come from the project partners.
"I am proud of the investments the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund has made to restore and protect habitat," said state Senator Jim Vickerman (DFL - Tracy). "As co-chair of the Legislative-Citizens Commission on Minnesota Resources, I have been impressed with the significant accomplishments of the Habitat Conservation Partnership and the ability to coordinate efforts and leverage additional resources for important projects."
Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF)
The ENRTF is a permanent fund in the Minnesota state treasury dedicated to funding activities that protect and enhance the state's air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources. The ENRTF was created in 1988 by voter approval of an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution. Money in the ENRTF originates from a combination of contributions and investment income. The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) makes annual project funding recommendations to the Minnesota legislature based on a competitive, multi-step proposal and selection process. For more information or for a list of LCCMR commission members go towww.lccmr.leg.mn.
Minnesota Habitat Conservation Partnership
The mission of Minnesota's Habitat Conservation Partnership is to restore, enhance, and conserve habitat for the purpose of sustaining fish, wildlife and native plant communities for all generations. Member Organizations include: Ducks Unlimited * Fond du Lac Reservation * Friends of the Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District * Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe * Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources * Minnesota Deer Hunters Association * Minnesota Department of Natural Resources * Minnesota Land Trust * Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund * Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc. * National Wild Turkey Federation * Pheasants Forever * Red Lake Band of Chippewa * The Nature Conservancy * Trust for Public Land * U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service * U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Contact:
Matt Holland (320) 354-4377 or [email protected].