Linking Habitat Restoration to Bioenergy and Local Economies
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Linking Habitat Restoration to Bioenergy and Local Economies (a.k.a. Woody Biomass Harvest for Habitat Restoration) was an innovative project helping to restore high quality native plant communities by removing ecologically inappropriate woody vegetation (exotic and/or native species) while stimulating local economies through strategic utilization of the biomass material for bioenergy or other products.
The Department of Natural Resources, Division of Ecological and Water Resources (DNR) received $600,000 from the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) and funded by the 2010 Legislature.
Funds were granted through a competitive process to public or private landowners for the cutting, moving and staging of woody biomass material generated as a by-product of restoration. Participating landowners agreed to donate the woody biomass material to the DNR who managed the sale of the material to local established and emerging woody biomass markets. Revenues collected were reinvested for further purposes of the project.
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Program Objectives
Goal: Restore valuable habitats while stimulating local economies through strategic utilization of the biomass material for bioenergy or other products.
Objectives:
• Restore critical habitats and high quality native plant communities and enhance biodiversity.
• Utilize woody biomass material by expanding market opportunities for biomass traditionally burned or landfilled.
• Stimulate local woody biomass markets, support local businesses and NGO’s, and employ labor crews, such as Conservation Corps Minnesota; complete a variety of types of projects (based on species/type of woody plant material, density, distance, land ownership, utilization opportunity, etc.).
Status: Completed
Start Date: 07/01/2010
Active Projects: (1) Active Projects
Completed Projects: (10) Completed Projects
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Program Website / How To Apply:
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Funding
FY2011
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Start Date: 07/01/2010
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End Date: 06/30/2013
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Funding Amount: $600,000.00
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Current Expenditures: $83,800.00
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Primary Funding Source: Natural Resources Fund
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Statutory Reference: M.L. 2012, Ch. 272, Sec. 85(c)
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Appropriation Language: $600,000 is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to restore high quality native habitats and expand market opportunities for using the woody by-product material for bioenergy or other products. The commissioner may provide grants or otherwise transfer some or all of this money to other public or private entities to accomplish these purposes. The commissioner may sell the material from public or private property to any viable market, provided that all of the proceeds are spent to further the purposes of this appropriation. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2013, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.
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Indicator: Acres treated for habitat restoration by removing ecologically inappropriate woody vegetation
Indicator: Cost per acre for cutting, moving and staging of woody biomass material
Indicator: Revenue collected for the woody biomass material removed from the project site.
Indicator: Habitat types under restoration following the removal of ecolgically inappropriate woody vegetation
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* The graph and indicator data may be grouped into date ranges that correspond with a group of grants that started at the same time. For example, grants that started in 2010 may have until 2012 to complete their work. Grants that started in 2011 may have until 2013 to complete their work (ranges vary by program). Each group is reported separately, which is why date ranges appear in the graph above and indicator data below.
Indicator Data
July 2010 - June 2013
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Target 300 Acres
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Current Measurement 415 Acres
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As Of 2013-06-30
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Target Description
The goal was to implement a minimum of 12 biomass harvest projects for a mimimum total of 300 acres of critical habitats and high quality native plant communities under restoration. Each round of funding is targeting 150 acres. There were expected to be 2 rounds of funding.
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Measurement Description
Round 1: 6 projects completed.
Round 2: 2 projects completed.
Round 3: 3 projects completed. Total acres being restored is 415. The target of 150 acres has been greatly exceeded.
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* The graph and indicator data may be grouped into date ranges that correspond with a group of grants that started at the same time. For example, grants that started in 2010 may have until 2012 to complete their work. Grants that started in 2011 may have until 2013 to complete their work (ranges vary by program). Each group is reported separately, which is why date ranges appear in the graph above and indicator data below.
Indicator Data
July 2010 - June 2013
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Target 1,500 Dollars
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Current Measurement 1,240 Dollars
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As Of 2013-06-30
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Target Description
Based on project costs for the previous woody biomass projects funded through the "Linking Habitat Restoration to Bioenergy" the average cost per acre was $1,500 for the cutting, moving and staging of the woody material. This project goal is to strive to keep the per acre cost at or below $1,500/acre. Project contractors are selected through a competitive bid process (either by master contract already established with the project site landowner or project-specific bid process) to perform this work in the most cost-effective and efficient manner and in adherence to sound ecological restoration practices as prescribed.
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Measurement Description
The average cost per acre for the cutting, moving and staging of woody biomass from 415 acres for the 11 completed projects is $1,240. The range is $633 per acre to $2,293 per acre.
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* The graph and indicator data may be grouped into date ranges that correspond with a group of grants that started at the same time. For example, grants that started in 2010 may have until 2012 to complete their work. Grants that started in 2011 may have until 2013 to complete their work (ranges vary by program). Each group is reported separately, which is why date ranges appear in the graph above and indicator data below.
Indicator Data
July 2010 - June 2013
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Target 0 Dollars
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Current Measurement 15,100 Dollars
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As Of 2013-06-30
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Target Description
This project offered a pilot approach to selling woody biomass from habitat restoration projects. There was no target amount of revenue to be collected.
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Measurement Description
Two biomass sales were conducted for the Belwin Conservancy ($10,600) and Koester Farm Partnership ($500) resulting in a total of $11,100 in revenues. An additional $4,000 in biomass value was identified for a total of $15,100 applied to additional project work.
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* The graph and indicator data may be grouped into date ranges that correspond with a group of grants that started at the same time. For example, grants that started in 2010 may have until 2012 to complete their work. Grants that started in 2011 may have until 2013 to complete their work (ranges vary by program). Each group is reported separately, which is why date ranges appear in the graph above and indicator data below.
Indicator Data
July 2010 - June 2013
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Target 0 Native Plant Community
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Current Measurement 415 Native Plant Community
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As Of 2013-06-30
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Target Description
There is no specific native plant community targeted, however, oak savanna and prairie are priority habitats.
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Measurement Description
Of the total 415 acres treated as a result of this project, 238 acres are being restored to oak woodland/forest, 95 to prairie, 69 to oak savanna, 8 to lowland hardwood forest and 5 to emergent marsh.
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Export Indicator Data (csv)
