DNR Acquires Nearly 16,000 acres

The Minnesota DNR has finalized one of its largest land acquisitions in decades — nearly 16,000 acres of forested land across ten counties in northern Minnesota are now permanently protected.

The move preserves critical habitat, expands public access, and ensures these lands remain forested for generations. DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen says the acquisition brings long-term benefits for people and wildlife alike.

The land purchase was the result of a multi-year collaboration involving The Conservation Fund, Northern Waters Land Trust, and several counties. The Conservation Fund originally bought the land from PotlatchDeltic between 2018 and 2022 to prevent fragmentation of forest blocks and allow conservation agencies to evaluate parcels.

To help explain the scope of the project, I spoke with Ingrid Johnson, Northeast Regional Communications Specialist with the DNR. She says mapping the parcels is a challenge because of how spread out they are.

Johnson says the DNR’s GIS staff is already working to assemble a visual map of the newly acquired tracts.

The purchase includes 10,675 acres acquired with Outdoor Heritage Funds in counties including Aitkin, Becker, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Koochiching, and Wadena. These parcels will expand wildlife management areas, scientific and natural areas, and state forests, depending on the land type.

The DNR also acquired 5,120 acres in St. Louis County using Reinvest in Minnesota dollars, helping to consolidate state forest ownership and preserve continuous habitat.

Johnson says the project has been years in the making.

Next comes the process of officially designating the lands, which determines how each area will be managed — from habitat protection in SNAs to recreation in state forests.

Johnson says the significance of preserving such a large area is substantial, especially for species like moose and bear that rely on uninterrupted habitat.

She says the long-term vision is to support clean water, habitat, and public recreation while strengthening northern Minnesota’s $13.5-billion outdoor-recreation economy.

And Johnson emphasized that, although this acquisition is large, the DNR works carefully with local communities when adding or adjusting public lands.

The newly protected acreage belongs to all Minnesotans. Details on access, management plans, and parcel maps will be released in the coming weeks on the Minnesota DNR website.