Happening

Conservation Minnesota has long supported The Board of Water & Soil Resources’ (BWSR) Lawns to Legumes program. Today, Policy Director Nels Paulsen presented the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee with a letter of support for the passing of a bill that would help combat population decline by creating new pollinator habitats. Read it here.

Minnesota is home to hundreds of species of plants and animals that are endangered, threatened, or of special concern. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would be the largest investment in wildlife conservation in a generation. Congress needs to pass the the Act before the end of the year—voice your support!

Minnesotans understand that pollution, wildlife, and water doesn’t stop at the border, so we recently advocated for the permanent protection of Ave Kwa Ame (Av-VEE kwa-meh), home to Spirit Mountain in Nevada, an area that’s vital to many Indigenous tribes. At the White House Tribal Nations Summit last Wednesday, the Biden Administration announced a commitment to designate up to 450,000 acres as the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument.

This month, Eden Prairie, Dakota County, and St. Cloud will receive Blazing Star Awards from Conservation Minnesota. The award acknowledges exceptional local government projects that advance conservation, climate, or the environment.

As we enter the dormant winter months, we think back to sunny days in the garden and reflect on new growth in our youth program. Conservation Crew is a student-led extracurricular program for middle schoolers that develops leadership skills through conservation projects in schools and communities. We’re excited to share more about our program and its early successes. 

We launched the Blazing Star Award to recognize local governments that engage in exciting new projects that advance conservation, climate, or the environment. We announce the inaugural year recipients!

In the summer of 2021, the Fond du Lac Band submitted a proposal to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to reintroduce an elk herd on the Fond du Lac Reservation and the Fond du Lac State Forest. Conservation Minnesota drafted legislation to provide funding for this elk reintroduction proposal and offered support for the bill as it received a hearing in the Minnesota House of Representatives. We remain steadfast in our support for the Fond du Lac Band’s elk reintroduction proposal and are committed to continued advocacy.

In October, Conservation Minnesota co-hosted with the Trust for Public Land the first ever statewide Parks & Recreation Commissions Conference that brought together volunteer commissioners and board members from across Minnesota to network, share their successes, and learn from experts.

This Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we bring awareness to an important piece of Minnesota history that’s often overlooked and celebrate the contributions of the 11 tribal nations that called this place home long before Minnesota became a state. 

September 24th is National Public Lands Day. Many of our public lands were stewarded by Native Americans for thousands of years and continue to be today. Our Public Land & Outdoor Recreation Program Manager shares a few resources to help respect Native Nations’ sovereignty this National Public Lands Day.