The natural and working lands action team will identify and advance land management policies and strategies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester more carbon in our soils and vegetation (keeping it out of the atmosphere), and make Minnesota's landscapes more resilient to climate change.
- Working lands refers to agricultural lands used for crop and livestock production, and forest land used for timber harvest
- Natural resources include a broad range of ecosystems, such as prairie and forest preserves; lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands; urban parkland; and school forests
If you or your organization would like to participate in this work, please reach out to our team contacts listed below.
We want to hear from you: share your ideas for climate solutions for natural and working lands using this online comment form.
We're also currently planning an Our Minnesota Climate forum event on soil health in spring 2021.
Recent work
In 2020, we met with environmental and agricultural groups, intergovernmental coalitions, forest industry groups, and renewable energy specialists to build relationships and establish an open dialogue.
We've learned:
- "Natural climate solutions" — conservation, restoration, and smart management of our forests, grasslands, and wetlands — are seen as key strategies for effectively responding to climate change
- The adaptation and mitigation strategies we're exploring align with ongoing efforts to promote of renewable energy, protect surface water and groundwater, and encourage sustainable agricultural practices and forest management
Our climate policy work is currently focused on three main areas:
- Establishing a system to quantify and measure carbon storage benefits in our landscapes
- Increasing carbon storage on agricultural lands with cover crops and other soil health practices
- Increasing carbon storage in natural resource areas by planting trees and shrubs
Background
Our team is focused on meeting the goals of the Climate Change Executive Order through
- Accelerating the adoption of land management practices that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration.
- Enhancing land managers' abilities to respond, recover, and adapt to Minnesota's changing climate
Team chairs
Shannon Lotthammer
Assistant Commissioner
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Shannon.Lotthammer@state.mn.us, 651-259-5021
Andrea Vaubel
Deputy Commissioner
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Andrea.Vaubel@state.mn.us, 651-201-6657
Team lead
Jen Schaust
Senior State Planner
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
jen.schaust@state.mn.us, 651-201-6322
Team members
- Board of Water and Soil Resources
- Dept. of Agriculture
- Dept. of Health
- Dept. of Natural Resources
- Environmental Quality Board
- Pollution Control Agency
