St. Louis County expands public forestlands through landmark deal
“St. Louis County has a strong tradition of balancing smart forest stewardship with meaningful public access, and we’re proud to support them in that work. This is conservation at its best — local, collaborative and built to last.” -- Kim Berns-Melhus
DULUTH — More than 4,600 acres of northern Minnesota forestland are now publicly owned and protected through a newly finalized agreement between The Conservation Fund and the St. Louis County Land and Minerals Department.
The 4,643-acre acquisition, completed Aug. 4, is part of The Conservation Fund’s Northern Minnesota Working Forests Initiative. The land will be integrated into St. Louis County’s managed forest system and used for wildlife habitat, sustainable timber production and public recreation.
“These are productive, ecologically significant forests that will now remain in public hands,” said Jason Meyer, Land Commissioner for St. Louis County. “This is a smart investment in long-term forest health, local jobs, and the public’s ability to access and enjoy these lands.”
The land was previously part of an industrial timber portfolio owned by PotlatchDeltic Corporation. When PotlatchDeltic began divesting its holdings, The Conservation Fund started to acquiring the properties in 2018 to prevent fragmentation and preserve the land for public benefit.
“The Conservation Fund exists to take on exactly these kinds of complex, high-impact projects,” said Kim Berns-Melhus, Minnesota state director at The Conservation Fund. “By acting quickly and strategically, we were able to secure these working forests and partner with St. Louis County to the benefit of so many Minnesotans.”
County officials selected the parcels based on their ecological value, proximity to existing county-managed forests, and potential to enhance habitat connectivity and forest management efficiency. The land will be accessible for hunting, hiking and other recreational uses.
“St. Louis County has a strong tradition of balancing smart forest stewardship with meaningful public access, and we’re proud to support them in that work,” said Berns-Melhus. “This is conservation at its best — local, collaborative and built to last.”
With this acquisition, St. Louis County continues to expand its portfolio of public lands, which already includes nearly 900,000 acres of tax-forfeited trust lands managed on behalf of the state.
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For more information about The Conservation Fund, visit www.conservationfund.org.
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