Minnesota Native Plant Society

If you have not heard yet, the MN DNR has made proposed updates to the Minnesota’s List of Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Species list. This is a list that is supposed to be updated every ten years, with the last update well past that date, having last been revised in 1996. The proposed revisions are posted online at www.dnr.state.mn.us/ets/rulesrevision.html. This page also lists the associated hearings dates and locations. The only metro hearing will take place on the evening of February 7th, which conflicts with our monthly meeting.

2012 Bioblitz Update

The 2012 Minnesota Bioblitz will take place during the 24 hours from 5:00pm Friday June 10 through 5:00 pm Saturday June 11 (plants will be covered on Saturday during 9:00am through 4:30pm). The focus of this year’s survey will be the Cedar Creek Ecological Preserve in East Bethel.  If you (and friends) are interested in participating please let me know.

As always the idea of the Bioblitz is to get a snapshot of diversity, both native and exotic, within an urban area.  The public’s involvement has been vital to the success of this event in the past and I hope you will consider volunteering again this year for the day or part of the day.  It always proves to be a fun time.

Details and directions can be found on the Museum website: www.bellmuseum.umn.edu/ResearchandTeaching/BioBlitz/index.htm

Representative Steve Drazkowski recently proposed an amendment to HF1010 that would require logging at Frontenac and Whitewater State Parks. This is an unprecedented move that would target black walnut (Juglans nigra) and other trees of value. The promises of revenue are far-fetched and this would benefit only a handful of individuals in Mr. Drazkowski’s district. We have state forest for a reason and the same goes with state parks. This is not only bad environmentally, it’s bad economically.

Doug Smith of the Star Tribune published a piece on this issue on March 26th (www.startribune.com/politics/local/118690399.html). The comments section is very interesting and encouraging. Please follow HF1010 by visiting the Minnesota House of Representatives homepage (www.house.leg.state.mn.us/) and type in 1010 following the HF in the upper left-hand corner of the webpage. Also contact this Representative and fellow committee members including Rep. McNamara. Voice your opinion one way or the other.

The actual language reads:

Sec. 21.  HARVEST OF TIMBER; STATE PARKS.

Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 2, or any other law to the contrary, the commissioner of natural resources shall assess the black walnut and other timber resources in Frontenac State Park and Whitewater State Park, harvest the black walnut and timber resources suitable for harvest, and deposit the proceeds from the sale into the state parks account in the natural resources fund by June 30, 2013.

This can be found on Page 1064 of the amended bill. You can easily skip through most of this text by running a search in  the internet browser of your choice, using the key words “Harvest of Timber” and that should take you directly there.

We report, you decide (we hope).

The details for posting: Volunteers needed: Be one of the first people to get up-close and personal with one of our newest State Parks. Starting at 12:00pm on Saturday June 25th and running through 12:00pm on Sunday, June 26th, Vermillion State Park will host a Bioblitz to help catalog all plants and animals within the boundaries of this scenic lakeshore setting. You don’t have to be an expert in either category, as you will be paired with someone who is. More details, such as camping availability and directions, will be forthcoming. If you would like more information in the short term, please contact DNR Park Manager, Tavis Westbrook: tavis.westbrook@state.mn.us.

2010 Minnesota’s Wildflowers $300,000 Weed Program Funding Initiative  

On March 2, 2010 Minnesota’s Wildflowers submitted their 2010 Legislative funding initiative to Senator Satveer Chaudhary, Chairman of the Senate’s Natural Resources Committee, requesting $300,000.00 for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s state weed program.

Minnesota’s Wildflowers are asking you to now contact your state legislators and asking them for their support of this important legislation.

The time for this funding is now, not 2011 or 2012 or whenever the economy gets better because it’s not going to. Minnesota does have weed law now but it is unfunded. Non-native invasive species at present run completely unchecked throughout the entire state.

We cannot promise that you that we will get this funding from these efforts but we will have tried and for sure – no funding without your help!

Here is the link to find contact information for your legislators:

www.gis.leg.mn/mapserver/districts/

For the Nov 2009 MNNPS program, Norm Aaseng provided a detailed and insightful program on the wetland ecology for black spruce and the regulated harvesting of the tree tips as a forest product promoted by the Minnesota Forest Resources Council www.frc.state.mn.us/.

Conversations on conservation can be had with the forest resources council or other industry stakeholders, including:

Bachman’s www.bachmans.com/tipsheets/Christmas/SpruceTreeTops.cfm

Linder’s linders.com/whats-happening/time-to-spruce-up-those-pots/

Please comment on this posting with any insightful conversations on conservation you may have with stakeholders on this important subject.

Background

No Child Left Inside is a national movement for furthering connecting kids and nature.  Legislation from 2009 can be reviewed at this website. www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h2054/show

This is not a brand new issue.  As far back as 2005 NPR promoted awareness in their story with Richard Louv and his then new book ‘Last Child in the Woods: Saving Kids From Nature Deficity Disorder’. The story is at this website.  www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4665933

WHAT YOU CAN DO

#1 You can speak of this to legislators and advocacy groups in terms of the benefits of healthy and diverse native plant communities being a fundamental part of connecting kids with nature and addressing nature deficit disorders. 

#2 You can respond to this post with new initiatives related to this issue.

Many eyes and ears make good work.  While MNNPS bloggers cannot stay up on all current issues affecting our native plants and communities, you can contribute by adding to this post what MNNPS members need to know to show up at public meetings, send public comments, and contact legislative representatives about issues of importance.

Actions undergoing state environmental review are posted at the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board Monitor Publication.  www.eqb.state.mn.us/monitor.html

NOVEMBER ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:  ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR PROPOSED POLYMET MINING

Background

In 2008, Minnesotan’s voted a Constitutional Amendment for 25 years of dependable funding for the environment.  This allows for the type of long term ecological planning necessary to tackle complex issues.

WHAT YOU CAN DO to ensure wise use of constitutionally approved financing for the environment

The Lessard Outdoor Council was formed in early 2009 to address the constitutionally approved funds and to receive proposals and make decisions on funding environmentally protective projects.  This website takes you to the latest activities of the Council. www.lohc.state.mn.us/ Native plant communities should be a cornerstone of long-term environmental protection and funding.  The importance of this will be understood by the Council only when MNNPS members and others present them personal stories and well thought out science on the importance of our native plant communities. Urge them to make native plant communities a top priority in considering and ranking proposals. Consider working together with a MNNPS friend to send letters and attend and comment on Council hearings in 2010.

Nature Conservancy to use grass for energy

June 11, 2009

Associated Press
Last update: June 11, 2009 – 7:04 AM

MANKATO, Minn. – A conservation group is trying to determine whether prairie grass in southern Minnesota could be used to produce electricity.

The Nature Conservancy will take grass from about 300 acres of native or restored prairies in Nicollet, Le Sueur, Sibley and Rice counties to a new biomass plant in Shakopee and figure out the cost of producing energy from the land.

Besides finding a new way to produce energy, a spokesman for the group says the project is a way to protect tallgrass prairies — a nearly extinct ecosystem. Christopher Anderson says Minnesota is down to less than 1 percent of the prairie land it once had.

The University of Minnesota and local soil and water districts are also helping with the project.

 WHAT YOU CAN DO

#1  Please comment on this post with additional news and information that you have.  This will be build our information base for 2010 action on this topic.

#2 Take Action.  Understand the issue and how various tradeoffs between prairie grass vs. other forms of plant biomass for fuels affect native plants and communities.  Contact your legislative representatives to find out where they stand and considering meeting with them to provide your understanding. www.leg.state.mn.us/