Land Conservation

"Is it good or bad?" Rethinking language around invasive species

September 14, 2022

A deep dive into the term "invasive species" — species that spread rapidly, or species out of place — plus how we can revise the value judgments we place on them. Read more

Think twice before removing that thistle

by Alex Roth

July 1, 2022

Not all thistles are invasive in Minnesota. Here's how you can tell if you're looking at one of our five native thistle species and why you should leave those species in the ground. >>

South Branch Vermillion River Aquatic Management Area

June 16, 2022

Located along a newly re-meandered stretch of the South Branch of the Vermillion River, this 24-acre woodland-turned-savanna is now a showcase for successful savanna restoration. >>

William H. Houlton Conservation Area

June 14, 2022

At the William H. Houlton Conservation Area — one of the largest undeveloped riverfront properties in the metro — we're restoring 160 acres of soybean field and grazed grasslands into prairie and oak savanna, plus stewarding over 150 acres of upland and floodplain forest at the confluence of the Elk and Mississippi rivers. >>

How can we reduce buckthorn and preserve native plants? The results are in!

by Karen Schik

March 25, 2022

In 2018, we started a three-year research project at Hampton Woods Wildlife Management Area to find out which methods of buckthorn control best protect and encourage native plants. And now the results are in! >>

Meet five new FMR restoration sites

March 13, 2022

Our ecologists actively restore and maintain habitat at more than 30 sites across the metro region. But we're always looking for additional projects that can support wildlife, protect our water and increase climate resilience. In 2021, we added five new restoration projects totaling 273 acres to our restoration portfolio. >>