Skip to main content

BOARD/COMMISSION:  Minnesota Forest Resources Council

(MFRC)


Address

1530 Cleveland Avenue North
201C Green Hall
St. Paul, MN
55108-6146

Web Site

Supporting Entity/Enabling Legislation Supported by MN Forest Resources Council

ENABLING LEGISLATION
M.S. 89A.03
Enabled: 08-01-1995 Expires: 06-30-2028
Revisor of Statutes Link

Chair and Contact
CONTACT
Eric Schenck
(651) 247-1367

TITLE
NAME
EMAIL
PHONE
PRIMARY
Executive Director (Staff)
Eric.schenck@state.mn.us
(651) 247-1367
Yes
Membership
The 17 member council shall include a chair; two representatives of organizations representing environmental interests; one representative of an organization representing the interest of management of game species; one representative of a conservation organization; one representative of an association representing forest products industry within the state; one commercial logging contractor active in a forest product association; one representative of a statewide association representing the resort and tourism industry; one faculty member or researcher of a Minnesota research or higher education institution; one owner of nonindustrial, private forest land of 40 acres or more; one owner of nonindustrial private forest land, one representative of Natural Resource Conservation Organization; one county land commissioner who is a member of the Minnesota Association of County Land Commissioners; one representative of U.S. Forest Service unit with land management responsibility in Minnesota; one representative of a labor organization with membership having an interest in forest resource issues; one individual representing a secondary wood products manufacturing organization; and one representative of the Indian Affairs Council. The Indian Affairs Council appoints its own member.
Member Info

COMPENSATION

  • Per Diem: $125.00
  • Other Compensation: Expenses + Per Diem

MEMBERSHIP DETAILS

  • Requires Older Member - no
  • Requires Senate Approval - no
  • Members file campaign finance and disclosure - no

Entity Powers and Duties, Activity Summary
The council shall develop recommendations to the governor and to federal, state, county and local governments with respect to forest resources policies and practices. The council also has responsibility for implementing the policies and programs called for in the Sustainable Forest Resources Act (Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 89A).

ACTIVITY SUMMARY

The Minnesota Forest Resources Council was established through the Sustainable Forest Resources Act to advise the governor and federal, state, and local governments with respect to sustainable forest resource policies and practices, and to implement the programs and activities called for in the Act. The council began meeting monthly in November 1995, and now meets on a bi-monthly basis, to carry out its responsibilities called for in the Act. Major activities of the council include the development, review, and implementation of comprehensive timber harvesting and forest management guidelines; establishing a landscape-based forest resources planning and coordination process; and establishing a Research Advisory Committee to carry out its assigned responsibilities regarding forest resources research. The council also undertook a comprehensive review of Minnesota's forest resources planning requirements as required in the Act, and is working with a number of other partners (e.g., Minnesota Forest Resources Partnership, Minnesota Logger Education Program, Interagency Information Cooperative, Center for Continuing Education of Natural Resource Professionals) to carry out the programs and activities called for in the Act.

Meeting Information
Meetings typically last: 6
Meeting Frequency: Meetings are held bi-monthly, and the location may vary.

Meetings are held at:
Statewide, location varies bi-monthly.


Fiscal Information
Annual Staff Hours: 10880.00
Total Appropriations: $906,000.00
Appropriations Description: Appropriations for FY24 $906,000 and FY25 $926,000
Fiscal Year Expenses: $847,000.00

Expenses Description:

Expenses for FY23 $847,000

Open Positions (8)
POSITION SEAT AUTHORITY 21-DAY MIN GUARANTEE #SEATS ACTION
County Land Commissioner County Land Commissioner Governor 11/20/2023 1 APPLY
DNR Representative DNR Representative Governor 11/20/2023 1 APPLY
Private Forest Land Owner Private Forest Land Owner Governor 11/20/2023 1 APPLY
Private Forest Land Owner (>40 Acres) Private Forest Land Owner (>40 Acres) Governor 2/26/2024 1 APPLY
Rep (Environmental Org) Rep (Environmental Org) #2 Governor 11/20/2023 1 APPLY
Rep (Higher Education And Research) Rep (Higher Education And Research) Governor 11/20/2023 1 APPLY
Rep (Secondary Wood Products Mfr) Rep (Secondary Wood Products Mfr) Governor 11/20/2023 1 APPLY
Rep (Us Forest Service) Rep (Us Forest Service) Governor 11/20/2023 1 APPLY

NAME POSITION APPLICATION DATE
Kory Cease County Land Commissioner 12/4/2023
Patty Thielen DNR Representative 11/17/2023
Martin Johnson Private Forest Land Owner 3/17/2024
Linda Kingery Private Forest Land Owner 11/16/2023
Becky Lourey Private Forest Land Owner 11/20/2023
John Rajala Private Forest Land Owner 11/20/2023
John Saxhaug Private Forest Land Owner 3/11/2024
Allen Garber Private Forest Land Owner (>40 Acres) 2/20/2024
Martin Johnson Private Forest Land Owner (>40 Acres) 3/18/2024
John Rajala Private Forest Land Owner (>40 Acres) 2/8/2024
Ms. Kim Berns Melhus Rep (Environmental Org) 11/6/2023
Dr. Michael Kilgore Rep (Higher Education And Research) 11/7/2023
Benjamin Wallace Rep (Secondary Wood Products Mfr) 11/18/2023
Michael Stansberry Rep (Us Forest Service) 11/11/2023

No pending appointments found.

POSITION/SEAT
APPOINTING AUTHORITY
MEMBER NAME
STATUS
TERM END
ACTION
Executive Director
Governor
Past Term End
05/01/2024

Current Members (17)
POSITION/SEAT
APPOINTING AUTHORITY
MEMBER NAME
STATUS
TERM END
Chair
Governor
Filled
01/04/2027
Conservation Organization Rep
Governor
Filled
01/04/2027
County Land Commissioner
Governor
Posted
01/01/2024
DNR Representative
Governor
Posted
01/01/2024
Labor Organization Rep
Governor
Filled
01/04/2027
Mn Indian Affairs Council Rep.
Minnesota Indian Affairs Council
Filled
01/01/2025
Private Forest Land Owner
Governor
Posted
01/01/2024
Private Forest Land Owner (>40 Acres)
Governor
Posted
Rep (Commercial Logging Contractor)
Governor
Filled
01/04/2027
Rep (Environmental Org) #1
Governor
Filled
01/04/2027
Rep (Environmental Org) #2
Governor
Posted
01/01/2024
Rep (Forest Products Industry)
Governor
Filled
01/04/2027
Rep (Game Species Mgmt Org)
Governor
Filled
01/04/2027
Rep (Higher Education And Research)
Governor
Posted
01/01/2024
Rep (Resort And Tourism Industry)
Governor
Filled
01/04/2027
Rep (Secondary Wood Products Mfr)
Governor
Posted
01/01/2024
Rep (Us Forest Service)
Governor
Posted
01/01/2024