St. Louis County to Acquire Public Forest Land

DULUTH, Minn. — Public access to northern Minnesota’s forests will increase as former timber lands in northern St. Louis County are poised to be added to the county’s forest land base, benefiting wildlife habitat, the forest industry and public recreational opportunities. The Conservation Fund (TCF) and St. Louis County announced the deal today.

Through the agreement, which the County Board unanimously approved June 3, TCF will sell 4,643 acres to be managed by the St. Louis County Land and Minerals Department for integration with the County Forest System. These acres, located about 120 miles north of Duluth, were managed by timber company PotlatchDeltic and later acquired by The Conservation Fund. St. Louis County’s acquisition of the lands from TCF will open them to the public and bring the lands into the county’s sustainable forest management program.

“In our work toward lasting solutions for these important lands we purchased from Potlatch, we look for partners that are ready to make long-term commitments for the public good,” said Kim Berns Melhus, Minnesota state director at TCF. “St. Louis County is the ideal partner to manage these acres and ensure that the land is open for recreation, safeguarded for the benefit of wildlife and sustainably managed timber lands.”

“This is a win for all involved,” said Commissioner Mike Jugovich, who chairs the County Board’s Environment & Natural Resources Committee. “It’s a smart investment in preserving land for public use, and we are thankful for the partnership with The Conservation Fund to make it happen.”

“This agreement allows us to consolidate important and productive forest lands,” said St. Louis County Land Commissioner Jason Meyer. “It benefits the people who enjoy our forests, the wildlife that inhabits these lands and the logging industry and many jobs associated with it.”

The acres TCF is selling to St. Louis County are a destination for grouse hunters and trail enthusiasts. Sustainable and cooperative logging practices by public and private timber managers have, over time, cultivated prime wildlife habitat of mixed hardwood and softwood forests, creating some of the best hunting opportunities in northern Minnesota. Certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, St. Louis County is well positioned to manage this land.

Thanks to the generosity of The Conservation Fund, St. Louis County is purchasing the forest land below the appraised fair market value. The discount, enabled by The Conservation Fund’s nonprofit mission, represent a roughly 10% savings to the citizens of St. Louis County. The sale is expected to be completed later this summer. In the meantime, the acres remain private property.

About The Conservation Fund
The Conservation Fund protects the land that sustains us all. We are in the business of conservation, creating innovative solutions that drive nature-based action in all 50 states for climate protection, vibrant communities and sustainable economies. We apply effective strategies, efficient financing approaches, and enduring government, community and private partnerships to protect millions of acres of America’s natural land, cultural sites, recreation areas and working forests and farms. To learn more, visit www.conservationfund.org.

About St. Louis County
Spanning 7,000 square miles, St. Louis County is the largest county east of the Mississippi River. It is home to 200,000 people and an abundance of natural resources including lakes, forests, wetlands and minerals. The county, through its Land and Minerals Department, manages nearly 900,000 acres of Tax-Forfeited Trust Lands on behalf of the state, establishing practical resource management programs based on responsible stewardship and sustainability.

Media Contacts
Josh Lynch, The Conservation Fund, 703-908-5809, jlynch@conservationfund.org
Jason Meyer, St. Louis County, 218-726-2605, meyerj@stlouiscountymn.gov