Natural Resources	Agency Profile
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/index.html

 

Mission:

The mission of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is to work with citizens to conserve and manage the state’s natural resources, to provide outdoor recreation opportunities, and to provide for commercial uses of natural resources in a way that creates a sustainable quality of life.

Statewide Outcome(s):

Natural Resources supports the following statewide outcome(s).

A thriving economy that encourages business growth and employment opportunities.

Strong and stable families and communities.

A clean, healthy environment with sustainable uses of natural resources.

DNR operates under a “triple bottom line” principle that economic prosperity and vibrant communities depend on a healthy environment and sustainable use of natural resources.

DNR is also a contributor to the statewide outcome:

People in Minnesota are safe

Context:

Key Issues. Minnesota’s natural resources play a key role in the state’s economic engine and quality of life. Yet, Minnesota is at natural resources sustainability crossroads as complex challenges reshape the state’s natural heritage. Invasive species threaten the health and resiliency of Minnesota’s lands and waters. Growth patterns in cities, on farmlands, in working forestlands, and around shorelands are impacting land and water conditions and their sustainable use. Climate changes are altering Minnesota’s lands and waters and are projected to significantly intensify the negative effects of wildfires, invasive species, and wildlife and plant diseases. Growing markets for renewable energy offer opportunities to conserve natural resources and enhance energy price stability and security. Minnesota’s nationally and internationally significant mineral resources are drawing significant development interest, while processing technology and environmental impact mitigation are advancing. Complex social and demographic trends are changing how citizens use and view Minnesota’s environment, while creating new demands for diverse outdoor recreation opportunities and services.

Agency Priorities. DNR serves a diverse and changing public as it works to achieve the following mission-critical goals:

Goal 1. Minnesota’s waters, natural lands, and diverse fish and wildlife habitats will be conserved and enhanced

Goal 2. Minnesota’s outdoor recreation opportunities meet the needs of new and existing Minnesotan’s so that all feel connected to nature.

Goal 3. Management of Minnesota’s natural resources will contribute to strong and sustainable job markets, economies, and communities.

Goal 4. DNR will be an excellent organization that continually improves its management capabilities in service to its conservation mission.

Budget. DNR operates on direct, open, and statutory appropriations: general fund, game and fish fund, natural resources fund, federal funds, legacy fund, environmental trust fund, and other special revenue. DNR budget information can be found at http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/aboutdnr/budget/fy12-13/budget_spent.pdf

Major shifts in traditional sources of conservation funding are influencing how the department accomplishes its work. This challenges DNR to adjust its strategic funding framework in ways that ensure efficient and consistent delivery of mission-critical services.

Strategies:

DNR’s work to sustain Minnesota’s natural lands and waters serves as a foundation to achieve the state’s triple bottom line – a healthy environment, a strong economy, and vibrant communities. DNR advances mission-critical priorities and contributes to statewide outcomes through the following integrated organizational structure:

•       Division of Ecological and Water Resources works to ensure the long-term health of watersheds across the state that support water quality and maintain water quantity, biodiversity, and vital ecosystem services.

•       Division of Enforcement enforces laws related to game and fish, wetlands, aquatic plants, and the operation of watercraft, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, and other recreational vehicles, and provides conservation and safety education programs.

•       Division of Fish and Wildlife conserves and enhances the state’s fish and wildlife populations and their supporting habitats through regulation, restoration, research, monitoring, and education.

•       Division of Forestry protects citizens and property from wildfire and strives for the sustainable yield of timber resources for forest products while managing state forests for wildlife habitat and recreation.

•       Division of Lands and Minerals manages agency real estate transactions and promotes, regulates, and provides expertise on mineral exploration, mining, and mine land reclamation.

•       Division of Parks and Trails operates a system of state park and state forest campgrounds that conserves natural, scenic, and cultural resources; maintains a statewide network of recreational trails; provides public access to lakes, rivers, and streams; and offers education opportunities.

•       Operations Support provides the policy, business, and managerial foundation to support DNR’s mission including planning and facilitating the deployment of the agency’s financial, human, and physical resources.

DNR’s integrated organizational structure efficiently contributes to vital statewide outcomes.

Minnesota’s natural resource-based economy

·         DNR offers for sale 700,000 to 900,000 cords of wood annually from state forest lands – about one third of the state’s timber harvest while Minnesota’s forest products sector has an economic impact of $13.8 billion in sales annually, $6.4 billion value added per year, and 67,300 jobs

·         Hunting, fishing and wildlife watching generates $4.3 billion annually and supports 55,000 jobs

·         With 12 million acres of state mineral rights, mining is the biggest contributor to northeast Minnesota’s economy

Natural resource conservation and enhancement

·         Forest certification on 4.8 million acres of state forest lands maintains the market competitiveness of Minnesota’s forest industry, providing timber, habitat, clean water, and recreation opportunities

·         DNR maps and monitors ground water – two-thirds of public water supply comes from ground water

·         DNR monitors the state’s surface waters with 2,800 monitoring sites across the state

·         DNR manages1,430 wildlife management areas (WMAs) with 1.3 million acres of habitat and 840 shoreland miles administered as aquatic management areas (AMAs)

·         DNR manages approximately 150 scientific and natural areas (SNAs), encompassing 180,000 acres

Outdoor recreation

·         Minnesota has the nation’s highest per-capita participation in fishing, while numbers of hunters, park visitors, trail users, and wildlife watchers are all above the national average. About 29 percent of Minnesotans fish, 15 percent Minnesotans hunt or trap, and 54 percent view or photograph wildlife

·         74 state parks and recreation areas, 54 state forest campgrounds and day use areas, eight state waysides

·         1,300 miles of developed state trails, 23,000 miles of snowmobile trails, 1,500 miles of cross-country ski trails, 2,000 miles of off-highway vehicle trails

·         30 water trails totaling 4,300 miles, 1,600 public accesses, 350 fishing piers and shore fishing sites

Measuring Success:

DNR employs a performance management system that connects agency mission and goals to budgets and uses performance measures and targets to measure conservation results. DNR’s “Strategic Conservation Agenda: Performance and Accountability Report”, (http://www.mndnr.gov/conservation_agenda/performance) a core part of this system, uses more than 90 performance measures and conservation targets to measure and communicate progress towards agency goals. Performance measures and targets are updated and reported annually. DNR’s Outcomes Tracking System provides up-to-date and integrated performance reporting of DNR Grant programs (http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/outcomes/index.html) and programs receiving Legacy Amendment Funds (http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/legacy/dnr-projects.html)

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