Land Conservation

The metro Mississippi River is known for scenic bluffs, floodplain forests, prairies and shorelands. Unfortunately, these habitats are disappearing quickly around the Twin Cities as new development displaces natural landscapes.

Through its Land Conservation program, FMR works with public and private landowners, local governments and concerned community members to protect and restore critical lands ecologically linked to the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities metro area.

FMR protects habitat and improves climate resilience through planning, land protection and natural resources restoration services.

Planning

FMR approaches land conservation in a strategic, systematic way. We begin by identifying natural areas and other important lands that can contribute to a healthy, diverse and dynamic river ecosystem.

Only after gaining a better understanding of potential lands to protect do we contact the landowners, public or private. 

Protecting

If a landowner is interested in permanently protecting their property, we help them explore their options and often guide them throughout the land protection process.

We've partnered with many landowners, agencies and organizations to protect thousands of acres of land critical to the health of the greater Twin Cities metro Mississippi River corridor. 

Restoring

A third and vitally important component of our program is to assist landowners, both private and public, in restoring and enhancing natural communities on their property.

Working with contractors and thousands of volunteers, we've conducted restoration and enhancement activities on over 2,500 acres — land that now contains habitat where little existed before. 

Our protection and restoration sites

FMR maintains dozens of habitat restoration and land protection sites in the metro area. Our work takes place on Dakota homelands.


Upcoming Events

Wednesday, December 11, 2024 - 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Friends of the Mississippi River office in St. Paul
This school year
In your classroom or outside

Our River Campaign:
It all starts here

At the heart of this new campaign is the vision of a healthy Mississippi River.