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People who care about protecting nature and its ecosystems face many challenge (just look at what's going on in the Gulf of Mexico right now), but there are also victories, and it's worth taking the time to celebrate them. The latest success comes from Minnesota, where a major forest conservation deal was reached.
About 187,000 acres of northern Minnesota forest, wetlands and shoreline will be forever protected and remain open to public hunting. A $44 million deal was inked with UPM-Blandin Paper Co. to keep the land from development of sub-division (regardless of who owns it in the future). According to the Nature Conservancy, which helped seal the deal, keeping this land as a working forest provides habitat for "wolves, black bear, eagles, great gray owls, osprey, ruffed grouse, woodcock and neotropical migratory songbirds and other wildlife as well as rare plants including dragon’s mouth."
The Star Tribune writes: "The cost includes $34 million from funds raised by Clean Water, Land and Legacy dollars through a 2008 sales tax increase and $9.75 million in private money. Supporters say it will curb the fragmentation of northern Minnesota's forests, which has occurred since forest companies began selling off small parcels in recent years. Numerous conservation groups supported the purchase."
Kudos to all those who worked hard to make this happen!
More on Conservation
Russia Creates Nature Reserves the Size of Switzerland!
U.S. and Canada Destroyed More Forest Than Brazil Between 2000-2005
170 Million Acres of Boreal Forest Saved in Major Historic Agreement! That's the Size of Texas
