7. DNR violates federal wildlife management rules and favors timber industry, risks losing funding
Issue: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has criticized — and withheld money from — the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for not using federal money for its intended purpose, the Star Tribune reported in 2023. It’s an example of the timber industry’s undue influence on the DNR.
Minnesota has hundreds of tracts of land devoted to public hunting and wildlife viewing, known as Wildlife Management Areas, or WMAs. By law, they must be managed for wildlife, for public hunting, fishing, and trapping, and other activities such as foraging and photography. Logging is permitted, but only as a tool to shape wildlife habitat. Felling trees is done to improve habitat — “not to satisfy relentless timber quotas,” the Star Tribune reported.
As an example of the problem, the DNR removed 114 red pines inside Red Lake WMA in 2021 to create new habitat. The Minnesota Forest Industries and Minnesota Timber Producers Association were furious and wanted the timber. They even used intimidation tactics — threatening the job of a longtime DNR WMA manager. DNR leadership gave in to the timber industry, allowing it to take trees that should have been left in place.
Because of DNR violations, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service temporarily withheld a $22 million grant to Minnesota.
A Fish and Wildlife Service report assessed the DNR’s misuse of federal wildlife funds. The report’s central finding was that: “The primary purposes of the forest management on WMAs seems to be to provide timber for the Minnesota timber industry, accomplish Minnesota DNR forestry goals, and produce revenue for Minnesota,” the Star Tribune said.
The DNR also improperly diverted hunting and fishing license revenue to commercial timber harvests rather than fish and wildlife work.
Feds increase DNR scrutiny: As part of a deal reached in December 2023, the Fish and Wildlife Service released federal grant money to the DNR, but the DNR must follow more stringent reporting requirements. The department has to show, in advance, how each timber sale will improve wildlife habitat.
Links:
Star Tribune, Federal officials revise grant conditions to ensure DNR logging on hunting lands serves wildlife, Jan. 10, 2024
Star Tribune, DNR abruptly pauses logging on federally aided hunting lands while it works to meet concerns, Aug. 9, 2023
Star Tribune, On DNR hunting lands, intensified logging rattles wildlife managers, Oct. 22, 2022