Links

This page contains some links that may be useful for private landowners in Minnesota. Scroll through or click below to go to a specific topic.

Forestry Organizations in Minnesota

Minnesota Forestry Association. Minnesota's oldest conservation organization was founded in 1876 to promote wise stewardship of forestlands, and is a landowner organization representing the private woodland owners.

Minnesota Forest Resources Council. The MFRC is a legislatively appointed council devoted to research and policy development related to the forests of Minnesota. The MFRC website provides updates on policy issues including the Voluntary Site-Level Forest Management Guidelines, records of local landscape planning meetings, and much more.

The American Tree Farm System is a non-profit organization for private landowners across the United States.

Minnesota Forest Industries (MFI) is an association representing the state's forest products companies. MFI encourages conservation, proper forest management and industry development that foster sound environmental stewardship, multiple uses of timberlands and long-term timber supply.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website is loaded with information on Minnesota's forests and natural resources.

The Minnesota Association of Consulting Foresters (MACF) was organized by experienced consultants in 1981 to maintain the professional standards of private forestry work. Membership and participation in the Association demonstrate the continuing desire for up-to-date information and techniques, promote the best interests of forestry clients, and strengthen the professional capabilities of the member.

Forest Stewardship on Private Property

The University of Minnesota Extension Service’s Forest Resources Extension Office has information on (almost) everything a Minnesota forest landowner could ever need.

The USDA Forest Service’s St. Paul Field Office’s Private Landowner Assistance site is loaded with information and assistance for Minnesota forest landowners. Check it out.

Woodscaping, from the North Carolina State University site. Woodscaping refers to stewardship and management of small-forested parcels, particularly in high-visibility areas such as near a residence.

Backyard Forestry, from the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences and Cloquet Forestry Center

More on backyard forestry from the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Backyard Conservation site. This site includes downloadable (Adobe PDF format) step-by-step guides to stewardship projects you can do in your backyard forest.

Minnesota DNR’s guide to white pine. Contains information about proper planting procedures as well as the critical protection and tending of the seedlings.

Forestry and Wildlife publications from the University of Maine Extension Service.

A local professional forester is an essential part of every well-managed forest. Consulting foresters will help you to understand your options and opportunities as you consider forest stewardship activities. The University of Minnesota Extension Service maintains a directory of consulting foresters in Minnesota.

Assistance for Private Forest Landowners

The Minnesota DNR’s Woodland Stewardship Program site provides information about the Woodland Stewardship Program, one that every private forest landowner in Minnesota should know about. Don’t miss this one.

The USDA Forest Service’s Co-operative Forestry division offers numerous financial incentives and programs for private forest landowners. This one is not just for members of co-ops!

The USDA Forest Service’s St. Paul Field Office’s Private Landowner Assistance site is loaded with information and assistance for Minnesota forest landowners. It will be proven an excellent resource with big variety of uses.

The Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts can provide information and assistance to private landowners.

Protecting Your Home from Natural Disturbance

Information about when and how to apply for a burning permit in Minnesota.

The FireWise Program has publications, a discussion forum, and videos about wildfire safety and awareness.

USDA Forest Service Superior National Forest site has information on the July 4, 1999 blowdown as well as general information about the Superior National Forest

The Ecology of Minnesota’s forests

The MN DNR’s Landview site is an easy-to-use source of geographic info for your land including aerial photos, maps, and more.

Ecological Classification Systems are giving us new information every day about Minnesota's forests. The better your (or your forester's) understanding of ECS, the more likely you are to make good decisions for your forest.

The MN DNR's Insect and Disease Newsletter provides timely information on the pests that my in your backyard...

The DNR's Ecosystem Education Program provides information about the ecological, economic and social values of managing natural resources sustainably.  

Soils and Landscapes of Minnesota  (U of M Extension pub, 1996)

Information about the programs, publications, assistance, and other resources of the Minnesota DNR - Division of Ecological Services

Read about invasive, exotic earthworms and their impacts on our forests.

Processing and Marketing Lumber from Your Woodland

Wood handbook--Wood as an engineering material. This is a long and technical but very informative guide to the properties of wood. If you’re serious about processing your own lumber, this is a valuable guide.

Drying Small Quantities of Hardwood Lumber--Understanding The Effects of Moisture on Wood. Another detailed guide to drying and processing your own lumber.

Seasoning of Wood. An almost encyclopedic guide to the properties of numerous species of wood. Useful notes for furniture manufacturing depending wood properties, with useful data about different kinds of wood and their physical properties.

Non-timber forest products and Agroforestry

Virginia Tech’s Special Forest Products site. A website about non-timber forest products useful from the grower to the consumer. A nation wide web for information gathering , marketing and anything else on special forest uses.

Pennsylvania State University Extension Service’s Maple and Non-Timber Forest Products site. Contains information on several different types of NTFPs, with a focus on maple syrup and ginseng and other botanicals.

Tom Volk’s Fungi page. Contains a broad spectrum of information about fungi, including edible mushrooms. If you are very interested in mushrooms and want to learn more about mycology and its ecological and economical extensions, this website can be very informative.

USDA National Agroforestry Center. This site is loaded with information about agroforestry. It also has numerous links to related sites. If you’re interested in agroforestry, this one is worth checking out.

Co-operative Forest Management

Headwaters Forestry Co-op, based in Long Prairie, MN.

Sustainable Woods Co-op, based in Spring Green, WI.

Living Forest Co-op, based in Ashland, WI

Community Forestry Resource Center, a non-profit organization based in Minneapolis that provides a broad range of support services for developing forestry co-ops and related landowner associations.

The Northcountry Co-operative Development Fund, another supporter of forestry co-ops in the Lakes States.

Miscellaneous

Forestry workshops organized by Cloquet Forestry Center staff and others.

The USDA Forest Service also has information in silviculture, for private landowners: the Forest Landowner’s Guide to Internet Resources.

UNASYLVA: From the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), an international journal with anything you need to know about global forestry issues.

USDA plant materials database: this is a resourceful website, a USDA plant directory. It has detailed information not just on trees, but also generally on plants, and it is very friendly to use.

Vendors of Forestry Equipment

Forestry Suppliers

Ben Meadows

Bailey's

Terra Tech

Sustainable Development

The Northeast Minnesota Sustainable Development Partnership promotes sustainable development in Cook, Lake, St. Louis, Koochiching, Carlton, Itasca and Aitkin Counties. Visit their website for a list of funded projects, current Board members, and to submit your project idea.

Minnesota Tree Planting Handbook

The Minnesota Tree Planting Handbook is a 40-page booklet that will teach you the proper technique for planting trees, how to plant for wildlife habitat, shelterbelts and windbreaks, and much more.

Direct Seeding of Native Hardwood Trees

This is a large document and may take a while to download to your computer.

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Sustainable Forestry Incentives Act

View frequently asked questions and answers regarding the new Sustainable Forestry Incentives Act.