Forest Management

The Land Department is committed to the principles of sustainable forest management and will manage the lands in our care in accordance with those principles. We will establish a sustainable forest management system (SFMS) that will help us achieve and be environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically visible.

Minnesota Counties Sustainable Forest Cooperative 

Formed in 2005, the Minnesota Counties Sustainable Forest Cooperative (MCSFC) forestland managed by Beltrami, Carlton, Crow Wing, and Koochiching Counties in Minnesota have been dually certified by the Forest Stewardship Council® and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®). In 2018, Beltrami County and Crow Wing County decided to proceed forward as singly certified by SFI® and remain part of the Cooperative.  

These county forests are managed for habitat, fiber, recreation, water, air, and visual qualities. Annually, the Cooperative successfully demonstrates sustainable management of the forestland against international criteria and against criteria set by the Minnesota Forest Resources Council Forest Management Guidelines. The Cooperative has developed a framework of procedures by which it manages these county lands. These procedures address legal, social, and environmental concerns. Annually each county reviews its activities and operators, and based on the review, the Cooperative adjusts the program to meet the measures of forestry certification. These reports, in addition to the Annual Audits, are posted to the public on the MCSFC website. MCSFC forestlands are internationally recognized as sustainably managed.