Two of Minnesota's state forests are growing a little larger thanks to a land donation of 375 acres from the Trust for Public Land.
The Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest will add a 257-acre parcel to its existing 1 million acres in southeast Minnesota, where a mixture of restored prairie and hardwood forests should provide plenty of recreation opportunities, including hiking and birdwatching, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
The 93,000-acre Nemadji State Forest south of Cloquet, along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border, will expand just under 120 acres. The addition will help improve water quality and strengthen the management of surrounding forests, which are popular destinations for hunting, snowshoeing and wildlife observation, according to the Trust for Public Land.
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"Minnesotans love their public lands because they provide important environmental, recreational and economic benefits, which is why the DNR is thrilled to add more than 350 acres of forest and grassland to the state forest system," Sarah Strommen, the department's commissioner, said in a news release.
The Trust for Public Land bought the properties from private parties, using grants from the Outdoor Heritage Fund, then donated the land to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
“These expansions not only preserve critical habitat but also enhance the quality of life for communities by providing more space for recreation and connection to nature,” Sophie Vorhoff, Minnesota State Director with Trust for Public Land, said in a news release.
How many state forests are there in Minnesota?
Minnesota has 60 state forests, most in the southeast and northeast parts of the state, with about 2,400 miles of roads and 1,200 miles of trails.
The state has roughly 18 million acres of forest, both public and private, including slightly more than 4 million acres of state-administered forest.
This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Minnesota forests will grow by hundreds of acres from land donation
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