Minnesota Legislature
HF 214
as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 01/21/2021 12:59pm
Current Version - as introduced
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A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; modifying purpose and other provisions of Minnesota
forests for future program, state nursery operations, Minnesota Forest Resources
Council, and Sustainable Forest Incentive Act; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020,
sections 84.66, subdivisions 1, 3; 88.79, subdivision 1; 89.001, subdivision 8;
89.35, subdivision 2; 89.37, subdivision 3; 89A.03, subdivision 2; 290C.01.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 84.66, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1.
Purpose.
The Minnesota forests for the future program identifies and
protects private, working forest lands for their timber, scenic, recreational, fish and wildlife
habitat, threatened and endangered species, new text begin natural carbon sequestration, new text end and other cultural
and environmental values.
Sec. 2.
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 84.66, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3.
Establishment.
The commissioner of natural resources shall establish and
administer a Minnesota forests for the future program. Land selected for inclusion in the
program shall be evaluated on the land's potential for:
(1) producing timber and other forest products;
(2) maintaining forest landscapes;
(3) providing public recreation; and
(4) providing ecological, fish and wildlife habitat, new text begin natural carbon sequestration, new text end and
other cultural and environmental values and values consistent with working forest lands.
Sec. 3.
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 88.79, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1.
Employing competent foresters; service to private owners.
The
commissioner of natural resources may employ competent foresters to furnish owners of
forest lands within the state of Minnesota who own not more than 1,000 acres of forest land,
forest management services consisting of:
(1) advice in management and protection of timber, including written stewardship and
forest management plans;
(2) selection and marking of timber to be cut;
(3) measurement of products;
(4) aid in marketing harvested products;
(5) provision of tree-planting equipment;
(6) advice in community forest management; deleted text begin and
deleted text end
new text begin
(7) advice in tree selection and care for natural carbon sequestration and climate
resiliency; and
new text end
deleted text begin (7)deleted text end new text begin (8)new text end such other services as the commissioner of natural resources deems necessary or
advisable to promote maximum sustained yield of timber and other benefits upon such forest
lands.
Sec. 4.
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 89.001, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
Subd. 8.
Forest resources.
"Forest resources" means those natural assets of forest lands,
including timber and other forest crops; new text begin carbon sequestration for climate change mitigation;
new text end biological diversity; recreation; fish and wildlife habitat; wilderness; rare and distinctive
flora and fauna; air; water; soil; climate; and educational, aesthetic, and historic values.
Sec. 5.
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 89.35, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2.
Purpose of planting.
The purposes for which trees may be produced, procured,
distributed, and planted under sections 89.35 to 89.39 deleted text begin shalldeleted text end include auxiliary forests,
woodlots, windbreaks, shelterbelts, erosion control, soil conservation, water conservation,
provision of permanent food and cover for wild life, environmental education,new text begin natural carbon
sequestration, species adaptation to climate change,new text end and afforestation and reforestation on
public or private lands of any kind, but deleted text begin shalldeleted text end new text begin donew text end not include deleted text begin thedeleted text end raising deleted text begin ofdeleted text end fruit for human
consumption or planting for purely ornamental purposes. It is hereby declared that all such
authorized purposes are in furtherance of the public health, safety, and welfare.
Sec. 6.
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 89.37, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3.
Private lands.
The commissioner may supply only bare root seedlings, woody
cuttings, and transplant material for use on private land, provided that such material must
be sold in lots of not less than deleted text begin 500deleted text end new text begin 250new text end for a sum determined by the commissioner to be
equivalent to the cost of the materials and the expenses of their distribution. The
commissioner may not directly or indirectly supply any other planting stock for use on
private lands.
Sec. 7.
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 89A.03, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2.
Purpose.
The council must develop recommendations to the governor and to
federal, state, county, and local governments with respect to forest resource policies and
practices that result in the sustainable management, use, and protection of the state's forest
resources. The policies and practices must:
(1) acknowledge the interactions of complex sustainable forest resources, multiple
ownership patterns, and local to international economic forces;
(2) give equal consideration to the long-term economic, ecological, and social needs
and limits of the state's forest resources;
(3) foster the productivity of the state's forests to provide a diversity of sustainable
benefits at site levels and landscape levels;
(4) enhance the ability of the state's forest resources to provide future benefits and
services;
(5) foster no net loss of forest land in Minnesota;
(6) encourage appropriate mixes of forest cover types and age classes within landscapes
to promote biological diversity and viable forest-dependent fish and wildlife habitats;
new text begin
(7) acknowledge the importance of the state's forest resources in providing natural carbon
storage and the role climate change will have on tree species selection and adaptation;
new text end
deleted text begin (7)deleted text end new text begin (8)new text end encourage collaboration and coordination with multiple constituencies in planning
and managing the state's forest resources; and
deleted text begin (8)deleted text end new text begin (9)new text end address the environmental impacts and implement mitigations as recommended
in the generic environmental impact statement on timber harvesting.
Sec. 8.
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 290C.01, is amended to read:
290C.01 PURPOSE.
It is the policy of this state to promote sustainable forest resource management on the
state's public and private lands. The state's private forests comprise approximately one-half
of the state forest land resources. These forests play a critical role in protecting water quality
and soil resources, and provide extensive wildlife habitat, new text begin natural carbon sequestration,
new text end diverse recreational experiences, and significant forest products that support the state's
economy. Ad valorem property taxes represent a significant annual cost that can discourage
long-term forest management investments. In order to foster silviculture investments and
retain these forests for their economic and ecological benefits, this chapter, hereafter referred
to as the "Sustainable Forest Incentive Act," is enacted to encourage the state's private forest
landowners to make a long-term commitment to sustainable forest management.