The first state agency dedicated to fighting wildfires and managing logging in Minnesota’s forests turned 100-years-old today.
The Duluth News-Tribune has the full story HERE.
On June 22, 1911 the state legislature established the Minnesota Forest Service which was directed to, “preserve forests, manage reforestation, and prevent and suppress wildfires.” William T. Cox was named the first state forester.
The original Forest Service is now the Division of Forestry of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and manages 58 State Forests and some 3.9 million acres of land, much of it in northeastern Minnesota.
Along with its fine piece on the history, present, and future of state forestry, the News-Tribune has also published THIS profile of C.C. Andrews, Minnesota’s original champion of forestry.
Find out more on the MN DNR Centennial site HERE >