North Shore Protection Initiative

A magical place…under increasing pressure.

From the forested gateway of Duluth to the tip of the Arrowhead, the North Shore of Lake Superior rivals any scenic landscape in the world. With its rugged coast and forested highland ridges, the North Shore has captivated generations with its ability to renew our spirit.

Never before has the North Shore been more popular, but this popularity is placing this inspirational landscape at risk. In Cook County alone, the population is expected to increase 60% over the next 25 years. As more and more people wish to visit or reside in this fragile ribbon of land, we face the daunting challenge of accommodating growth, while protecting the North Shore’s ecological and scenic values.

Working Together to Protect the North Shore

The North Shore Protection Initiative, spearheaded by the Minnesota Land Trust, is the first concerted effort to create an integrated conservation strategy for the North Shore, from Duluth to the Canadian border. The goal of the Initiative is to protect the natural and scenic heritage of Minnesota’s North Shore while simultaneously respecting the social and economic needs of the communities within the region.

The Land Trust is working with its partners along the North Shore to create an integrated protection strategy for the North Shore. The strategy recognizes the delicate balance between growth and land protection and works with interested private landowners and local government entities to implement their conservation visions for the region.

What we've accomplished...where new opportunities lie

We're working with landowners all along the North Shore to protect this classic Minnesota landscape.  As of June 30, 2011, we've succeeded at protecting 24 different properties (click on map below).  Currently, the Land Trust is working on several new projects in key areas that will add significant new acreage.