Investing in Minnesota’s Outdoor Resources - Internal Staff Page

In Minnesota we go to outdoor spaces to relax, to adventure, to continue traditions, and to try something new. Nature provides water to drink, food to eat, places to live and thrive – for people and for all other creatures.

While Minnesotans have demonstrated support for the environment and outdoors, Minnesota’s current natural resources funding system can’t sustainably support the conservation efforts, natural resource management, and outdoor recreation opportunities we value for the future.

We need your help identifying funding solutions to achieve the future vision. In this future:  

• Minnesotans share in the “business case” and the “social case” for conservation and outdoor recreation investment, understanding what we gain or lose through investment choices, and apply this perspective in decision making
• DNR and partners have sufficient funding to address natural resource issues, particularly the critical, emergent issues that will most impact Minnesota in coming years
• Funding is predictable, stable, and flexible enough to meet its intended purposes for conservation and outdoor recreation management

What thoughts or feedback do you have on this piece of the vision? What solutions might move us forward towards achieving this future?

The natural and outdoor resources of Minnesota are rich and unique. Minnesotans today, and in the future, deserve access to the benefits of nature and quality time outside. We have a wealth of experience and expertise in Minnesota to help guide decision making and management.

Key aspects for the future of outdoor recreation experiences and conservation includes:

1. Robust, diverse, and high-quality outdoor resources offering all Minnesotans nature-based recreation opportunities
2. Ample conservation of high quality lands and waters providing all Minnesotans the benefits of high-functioning ecosystems
3. Conservation and outdoor recreation decisions based on community values and informed by science and proven best management practices

What thoughts or feedback do you have on this piece of the vision? What solutions might move us forward towards achieving this future?

Minnesotans value our wonderfully diverse natural world, with its outstanding land and water resources and recreational opportunities. We also count on the diversity of people and organizations that care for Minnesota’s outdoors, from government agencies with statewide responsibilities, like the DNR to local groups or individuals focused on a single place special to them.  These people and organizations can benefit Minnesota by embracing the complexities, looking for ways to work together, and lifting up what each person or organization does best.

Key aspects for the future of critical collaboration include: 

• The relationship between conservation and recreation uses and spaces is fully understood and accounted for in decision making
• DNR and other Minnesota conservation and outdoor recreation organizations work together effectively, with the complexities of interconnected decision making well understood 
• Resources are managed in a manner that fosters innovation and adaptation to changing ecological, social, and technological conditions

What thoughts or feedback do you have on this piece of the vision? What solutions might move us forward towards achieving this future?

All Minnesotans desire and deserve access to the outdoors and the benefits of healthy natural systems. Care for the resources is a shared responsibility, and access to natural spaces is a public right. 

Key aspects of equitably providing conservation and outdoor recreation opportunities to all Minnesotans include:  

• All Minnesotans can access conservation and outdoor recreation services and resources equitably, and management of resources adapts to meet Minnesotans’ needs as they change over time
• Support for conservation and outdoor recreation is broad-based with shared stewardship across users and uses
• Minnesotans know how funding for conservation and outdoor recreation is invested and how their communities benefit 

What thoughts or feedback do you have on this piece of the vision? What solutions might move us forward towards achieving this future?

Conservation and outdoor recreation are both priorities themselves and contribute to well-rounded education, health and wellness, and robust economy. Conservation and outdoor recreation and other state priorities will all advance if their relationships to each other are more closely considered.

Key aspects of aligning conservation and outdoor recreation with other Minnesota state priorities include: 

• Conservation and outdoor recreation are integrated with, supportive, and supported by other related state priorities 
• Conservation and outdoor recreation are recognized by all as “need to have”, rather than “nice to have”, in funding and policy decision making.
• To help identify alignment with other priorities, solutions for management and funding issues are developed by participants with a variety of experiences and perspectives and with a broad definition of nature and nature experiences

What thoughts or feedback do you have on this piece of the vision? What solutions might move us forward towards achieving this future?