Investing in Minnesota’s Outdoor Resources

In 2021, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources began a transformational effort to identify what Minnesotans value for the future of conservation and outdoor recreation and what steps we collectively need to take to reach that future. Through a year-long process of conversations and public engagement, a shared vision for funding the future of outdoor recreation and conservation emerged, resulting in the creation of the 4 The Outdoors Report (External link). This framework identifies some of the biggest challenges in securing adequate financial resources to support natural resource management for conservation and outdoor recreation, and also identifies concrete steps we can take to advance on the path towards financial stability and sustainability moving forward. To achieve the vision for the future of outdoor recreation and conservation in Minnesota, there are four areas where action is needed:

We are now mid-way through implementation of the 4 steps in 4 years. In 2023, we focused on optimizing the use of current funding, and we continue to identify opportunities to make the best use of every dollar. Our current focus is on exploring the use and application of fees and securing stable and predictable base and operational funding.

We asked for your ideas to address the challenge of securing adequate financial resources to support natural resource management for conservation and outdoor recreation over the long term, and you delivered! We received hundreds of ideas and possible solutions from Minnesotans all around the state. Now we are working with partners, stakeholders, and interested Minnesotans to further develop and implement solutions that support the vision for Minnesota’s conservation and outdoor recreation for future generations. Here’s how you can participate in this latest effort: