Goat Prairie Overlooking Root River Protected

The Land Trust has completed the protection of a 11-acre tract in Houston County that is dominated by a steep, dry bluff prairie rising nearly 300 feet above the Root River.  Located on Highway 16, an Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway that runs through Lanesboro east to the Mississippi River, the tract lies within an area where much of the prairie bluffs have reverted to forest and very little of the native habitat remains.  The property is clearly visible from the Root River and is only two miles from both the Chisholm Valley Wildlife Management Area and the Vinegar Ridge Recreation Area.  An equestrian trail lies just north andClassic, south-facing rock outcroppings provide perfect habitat for timber rattlesnakes west of the property.

Protecting the tract protects important habitat for several rare species including timber rattlesnakes, the six-lined racerunner lizard and a number of native prairie plants.  The landowner is actively restoring the property by removing the cedars and other woody plants that have overrun the steep slopes.

You're Invited to Attend the Legacy Stakeholders' Forum on Jan. 5

In 2008, Minnesota citizens from around the state worked hard and successfully secured voters’ strong approval of the “Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment” to ensure additional financial resources for our wildlife, water, parks and lands.

Part of the work that continues today is the periodic monitoring by our state’s citizens to make sure these investments are being properly made and live up to the expectations of our citizenry.  In short, we must continually examine the central question, “Is the Legacy Amendment money going to projects and programs as voters expected?”

To help answer that question, and to keep legislators, policy-makers and stakeholders informed and conversing, a broad array of conservation groups have annually held a Legacy Stakeholders’ Forum at the beginning of each calendar year.

We are pleased to announce that this year’s Forum will be held from 1 – 5 p.m. on Thursday, January 5 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Saint Paul. The Forum will include panel discussions by legislators, conservation leaders, Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council members, and others on the status of Legacy projects, challenges encountered, and prospects for the future. The Forum will also provide participants the opportunity to ask questions of panel members and to meet and interact with the key leaders working to shape the Amendment’s destiny. Together, we will “follow the money” and tell the stories of how and where these investments are being made and what the public is getting for their dollars.

Participation is free, refreshments will be provided, but space is limited. To help us better plan for a successful afternoon, we request that you pre-register soon. Simply send an email with your name and email address to Noreen Tyler at ikes@minnesotaikes.org.

This event is open to the public, and we invite you to forward this invitation to others who may be interested.

Live Video Stream!  There will also be a live video stream providing coverage of the Forum for those who cannot attend.  Click here to access the stream, no log-in required.

Land Trust staff to serve on Accreditation Commission board

The Minnesota Land Trust is pleased to announce that our own Conservation Stewardship Director, Anne Murphy, has been named to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission Board.  Anne's first term will begin on January 1, 2012.

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission was incorporated in April 2006 as an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance to operate a land trust accreditation program to build and recognize strong land trusts, foster public confidence in land conservation and help ensure the long-term protection of land.

Anne will join fellow Minnesotan, Tom Duffus, who is the Upper Midwest Director of The Conservation Fund, in serving on the Commission board which is comprised of land conservation and nonprofit management experts from around the country.

We’re proud – but certainly not surprised – to have Anne selected to serve at the national level. It’s a great indicator of the respect that national land trust leaders have for the quality of Minnesota’s conservation community.

More U.S. land conserved as parks, farms, nature areas

The 2010 National Land Trust Census, released today (Nov. 16, 2011) details the very positive trends in land protection across the country and especially in Minnesota.  Since 2005, Minnesotans have increased protected acreage by 51%.