|
|
On May 4, the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness finalized its purchase of 35 acres of mature forest that is home to white pines, red pines, and birch. The parcel is located off the Sawbill Trail and is surrounded by federal land. It represents a new level of cooperation between the Superior National Forest and the 45-year-old non-profit.
The property was previously owned by Edward Nicholson, who willed the land to be donated to the Superior National Forest. Due to limited administrative capacity, officials with the Superior National Forest met with Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness and discussed the need to protect the Sawbill Trail Conservation Property. Friends rose to the occasion and purchased the property for a nominal sum and will manage the property in a way to preserve its wilderness character and make it suitable for wildlife habitat.
“We are excited to reopen our land conservation work. In addition to the Sawbill property, we have identified hundreds of acres at the edge of the Boundary Waters that are for sale or about to be put on the market. If these properties are developed, the wilderness experience will suffer death by a thousand cuts. Preserving this landscape provides exceptional recreation opportunities and wildlife habitat for moose, wolves, black bear, and other iconic species of the Northwoods,” says Chris Knopf, Executive Director of the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness.
Though not obliged to do so, the Friends will pay property taxes on the land and eventually, will convey the property to the Superior National Forest when federal officials are in a position for this acquisition.
To develop a wildlife management plan for the Sawbill Trail Property, the Friends has formed an advisory council that includes the Director of the University of Minnesota Center for Forest Ecology, a natural resources professor at Vermilion Community College, and the chief ranger at the Superior National Forest Kawishiwi Ranger District.
Leave a Reply