MINNESOTA
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) mission statement focuses the department's efforts in managing the state's resources. The DNR strives to work with people to conserve natural systems and maintain biodiversity while providing for the ethical use of the resources for social and economic purposes. The DNR works to balance development needs with the need to protect natural resource values; preserve unique, threatened, and endangered resources; preserve unique cultural, historical, and archaeological resources; improve and restore degraded environments, and mitigate environmental losses; and integrate all natural resource concerns and perspectives in decision-making processes. Resources are managed for a sustainable quality of life by balancing human needs and natural systems to ensure the needs of present generations are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs; and maintaining the integrity of natural systems to ensure a productive and healthy living environment. The DNR staff works in partnership with constituents to manage the state's ecosystems. Maintaining a sustainable quality of life is a shared responsibility of all citizens, as well as public and private organizations. Minnesota's natural resources include about 16.65 million acres of forest land; 11,842 lakes of 10 acres or larger; tens of thousands of miles of rivers; diverse game animals; prized game fish; rare plant and animal species; rich mineral deposits; more than 65 state parks and three state recreation areas; and hundreds of areas for camping, hiking, snowmobiling, and other outdoor recreation. Website: "http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/index.html" [Summary provided by the Minnesota DNR]
MN/DNR