What's new: Nearly 4,800 acres of forest owned by the Potlatch Corp. in north central Minnesota will be protected from development under a deal with the Trust for Public Land and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The lands are located near the Crow Wing State Forest in Crow Wing County and near the Pillsbury State Forest in Cass County. Land prices in both areas are skyrocketing as more people build homes in the North Woods.
The concept: The deal, called a forest conservation easement, transfers development rights for a property to a nonprofit or government agency. Potlatch will receive about $3.5 million for the reduced value of land that cannot be developed. It still will manage the land for timber and allow public access for recreation.
The details: $2.8 million came from the U.S. Agriculture Department's Forest Legacy Program, which protects working forests and woodlands. Another $730,000 came from the state's 2005 bonding law. The easement for more than 3,100 acres in Crow Wing County became official Tuesday; the easement for the remaining 1,600 acres in Cass County will be completed early in 2006.
What's next: The Trust for Public Land and the Nature Conservancy are working on forest conservation easements in Itasca County and elsewhere.Minneapolis Star Tribune
