The Conservation Fund Protects Minnesota Birding Treasure

DULUTH, Minn. — The Conservation Fund, in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Louis County and Ecosystem Investment Partners, has launched the third phase of an ambitious conservation effort to protect thousands of acres within the globally significant birding area known as Sax-Zim Bog in northern Minnesota.

Located northwest of Duluth, Sax-Zim Bog is internationally renowned among birders and outdoor enthusiasts for its unique mix of boreal peatlands and northern forests. It provides critical habitat for more than 240 bird species, including the elusive Great Gray Owl, Northern Hawk Owl and Snowy Owl. Each winter, the bog draws thousands of visitors for the annual Sax-Zim Bog Birding Festival.

Building on previous successes to safeguard this critical habitat, the latest effort will permanently protect 10,000 additional acres, bringing the total area preserved by The Conservation Fund and its partners to more than 42,000 acres. This milestone project is the culmination of years of planning, balancing environmental restoration with economic development.

“Sax-Zim Bog is a birding treasure, an ecological powerhouse and a big driver of tourism dollars,” said Emilee Nelson, Minnesota state director at The Conservation Fund. “Together with our partners at the DNR, St. Louis County and EIP, we are ensuring this extraordinary landscape is protected for generations to come.”

Like earlier phases completed in 2013 and 2018, this phase of the project involves a land exchange in which The Conservation Fund is trading previously acquired timberlands for ecologically rich bog lands owned by the state of Minnesota and managed by the DNR and St. Louis County. These bog lands — prized for their habitat value — will then be transferred to Ecosystem Investment Partners for restoration and long-term stewardship as a wetland bank.

“This project exemplifies how strong public-private partnerships can deliver meaningful environmental restoration and measurable outcomes,” said Nick Dilks, co-founder and managing partner at Ecosystem Investment Partners. “Sax-Zim Bog is an irreplaceable ecological resource, and EIP is proud to continue to work to restore and permanently protect this area as we’ve been doing for over 10 years now while also supporting local development efforts from our wetland mitigation banks.”

“The Sax-Zim Bog is one of Minnesota’s most unique and ecologically important landscapes,” said Clarissa Spicer, Northeast regional director for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “Through this collaborative land exchange, we’re consolidating public lands and preventing fragmentation to conserve contiguous wildlife habitats that are a haven for rare birds and the people who cherish them. It’s an honor to work with The Conservation Fund, St. Louis County, and Ecosystem Investment Partners to steward the many values of this remarkable place.”

“This is a significant project benefitting the environment through the restoration of wetlands and conservation of critical habitat along with providing benefit to local communities by providing needed wetland mitigation credits for development,” said Jason Meyer, director of land and minerals at St. Louis County. “Through this exchange, St. Louis County gains more productive working forestland while helping secure the future of a globally significant habitat; achieving both while benefitting the local economy.”

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 Ecosystem Investment Partners
Delivering the Value of Nature Restored. EIP is one of the country’s leading providers of environmental restoration and conservation with over 125 mitigation banks and large-scale restoration projects across 19 states. With a 20-year track record and national footprint, EIP has restored and conserved over 59,000 acres of wetlands, 260 miles of streams, and has planted over 6.2 million trees. EIP’s innovative, ecological restoration solutions repair, renew, and conserve natural habitats—for both environmental and human benefit—across the U.S. To learn more, visit www.ecosystempartners.com.