Happening

September 24th is National Public Lands Day. Many of our public lands were stewarded by Native Americans for thousands of years and continue to be today. Our Public Land & Outdoor Recreation Program Manager shares a few resources to help respect Native Nations’ sovereignty this National Public Lands Day.

To create a future that addresses historic disparities and ensures that no community is disproportionately impacted by pollution, we need responsible, forward-looking leaders willing to take courageous actions. At Conservation Minnesota we're creating resources to make sure voters and candidates understand our pressing conservation issues. 

This month, we want to recognize the Latino community's contributions in Minnesota by highlighting Latinos' important role in agriculture. Latino farmers are helping change the agricultural landscape through innovative practices.

Our Public Land & Outdoor Recreation Program Manager, Avery Hildebrand, considers how outdoor recreation can help communities economically while creating an identity and inspiring passion. He shares his experience in Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area.

Each season more farmers are facing challenges due to climate change. As extreme weather events like drought and hail storms become more common, it's critical that we find climate solutions in agriculture. Investing in our environment and research can pave the way for future generations of farmers in Minnesota. 

President Biden has signed the biggest climate and clean energy bill our country has ever seen. After a year and a half of work to pass sweeping climate legislation, Senators Schumer and Manchin announced a surprise deal on the reconciliation package. The Senate passed the bill on August 7th, the House followed suit last Friday, and the President signed it into law today.

Conservation Minnesota was honored to receive the “Friend of the CGMC” award from the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC) alongside our partners IUOE, Local 49, and LIUNA Minnesota & North Dakota on Thursday, July 28th. Once again this legislative session, we worked with a diverse set of stakeholders, including our union allies and community leaders, to advocate for Greater Minnesota to work toward funding for water and wastewater infrastructure. 

In Minnesota, breweries are at the heart of many communities. But as climate change continues to impact agriculture, local brewers and growers are starting to get concerned. Stone Hill Farm hop grower Jon Brach discusses the impact of extreme weather on his crops.

Before adjourning in late May, state legislators could not agree on a capital investment bill or finalize several funding packages known as omnibus bills. This year, unfinished legislation meant leaving billions of dollars of federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding on the table. Without matching funds from the state legislature, Minnesota will lose out on many of these investments.

On June 14th, over 70 people braved the 105-degree heat index to help clean up the Mississippi River at Boom Island Park in Minneapolis. Conservation Minnesota, in partnership with United By Blue, Target, and Friends of the Mississippi River, spent two hours combing the river banks, neighborhoods, trails, and grassy fields for small plastics.