Support DNR’s reforestation efforts by donating to the Future Forest Fund : Nov 24, 2025 – Minnesota DNR

Report on the Minnesota Future Forest Fund’s Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Future Forest Fund represents a significant public-private partnership aimed at enhancing the state’s forest lands. This initiative directly supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by mobilizing public contributions for reforestation and sustainable forest management. The fund facilitates the planting of tree seedlings to restore and maintain healthy forests, thereby addressing climate change, protecting biodiversity, ensuring clean water, and promoting sustainable resource management for future generations.

Program Overview and Key Achievements

The Future Forest Fund enables direct public participation in the stewardship of Minnesota’s state forests. Donations are allocated to the planting and care of trees, with a focus on areas impacted by harvesting, disease, fire, storms, and other environmental stressors.

• Historical Impact: Over the past decade, contributions have supported the planting of more than 570,000 tree seedlings.
• Recent Activity: In spring 2025, the fund facilitated the planting of approximately 88,000 seedlings across 100 acres in six state forests.
• Strategic Allocation: DNR foresters identify and prioritize sites with the greatest need for reforestation, ensuring donations have a maximum ecological impact.
• Financial Mechanism: The program operates on tax-deductible donations from the public, providing a transparent channel for environmental investment.

Direct Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The fund’s activities provide measurable contributions to critical global sustainability targets.

SDG 15: Life on Land

The program’s core mission is the protection, restoration, and promotion of sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

• Combating Deforestation: The fund directly finances reforestation on certified, sustainably managed DNR lands, counteracting tree loss from both natural and human causes.
• Halting Biodiversity Loss: By planting diverse, native tree species, the program restores and creates vital habitats for a wide range of flora and fauna.
• Restoring Degraded Land: Donations are specifically used to rehabilitate areas affected by environmental damage, contributing to land degradation neutrality.

SDG 13: Climate Action

Afforestation and reforestation are recognized as essential strategies for climate change mitigation.

• Carbon Sequestration: Each tree planted through the fund contributes to the long-term storage of atmospheric carbon, directly addressing a primary driver of climate change.
• Ecosystem Resilience: Healthy, well-managed forests are more resilient to climate-related hazards such as extreme weather events and pest outbreaks.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Forest ecosystems play an indispensable role in the protection of water resources.

• Water Quality Protection: Forests act as natural filters, purifying water and regulating its flow into rivers and aquifers, thereby safeguarding water-related ecosystems and ensuring cleaner water for communities.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The fund’s operational model is a prime example of a multi-stakeholder partnership for sustainable development.

• Public-Private Partnership: It establishes a collaborative framework between a government agency (DNR) and the public to achieve shared environmental objectives.
• Resource Mobilization: The fund effectively mobilizes financial resources from individuals and groups to support critical environmental action on the ground.

Contribution Methods

Participation in the Future Forest Fund is accessible through multiple channels, allowing for broad public engagement in achieving these sustainability goals.

1. Online Donations: Contributions can be made directly through the Minnesota DNR website.
2. Mail-in Donations: Checks can be mailed to the Future Forest Fund, DNR-Forestry Division, 500 Lafayette Rd., St. Paul, MN.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • This is the most directly relevant goal. The article focuses entirely on efforts to “plant trees and keep state forests healthy,” which aligns with protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. It explicitly mentions providing “habitat for plants and animals” and managing forests to replace trees lost to disease, fire, and storms.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article connects forest health directly to climate action by stating that a key benefit of planting trees is “carbon storage.” Forests are critical carbon sinks, and reforestation efforts like the Future Forest Fund are a primary strategy for climate change mitigation.
3. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • The article mentions that donations contribute to “cleaner air and water.” Healthy forests play a crucial role in protecting watersheds and filtering water, directly supporting the aim of protecting and restoring water-related ecosystems.
4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • The text refers to “sustainably grown forest products” and replanting efforts on “sustainably harvested, DNR-managed land.” This connects the initiative to the principles of sustainable management of natural resources and responsible production patterns.
5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The Future Forest Fund is presented as a way for Minnesotans to “partner directly with the DNR.” This public-private partnership, where individual citizens contribute financially to a government-managed environmental program, exemplifies the collaborative approach needed to achieve the SDGs.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 15 (Life on Land):
   • Target 15.2: “By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally.” The article’s core mission is to fund the planting of tree seedlings (“replanting efforts”) on state forest lands, directly contributing to reforestation.
   • Target 15.5: “Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.” The fund helps “replace trees lost to disease, fire, storms, insects,” which mitigates the degradation of forest habitats and supports the overall ecosystem (“habitat for plants and animals”).
2. Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):
   • Target 13.1: “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.” By planting trees and managing forests to be more resilient against “fire, storms, insects,” the program helps strengthen the ecosystem’s ability to withstand climate-related hazards.
3. Under SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation):
   • Target 6.6: “By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.” The article’s claim that the fund contributes to “cleaner… water” directly links the forest restoration efforts to the protection of water-related ecosystems.
4. Under SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production):
   • Target 12.2: “By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.” The mention of supporting “sustainably grown forest products” and managing land that is “sustainably harvested” aligns with this target.
5. Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):
   • Target 17.17: “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.” The Future Forest Fund is a direct example of a public-private partnership, where donations from the public support a state-run (DNR) initiative.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article provides several specific quantitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Number of trees planted: The article states that the fund has “helped plant more than 570,000 tree seedlings over the last decade” and that contributions were used to “plant roughly 88,000 seedlings” in spring 2025. This is a direct measure of reforestation efforts (relevant to Target 15.2).
• Area of land reforested: It is mentioned that the 88,000 seedlings were planted on “about 100 acres across six state forests.” This provides a spatial indicator of the program’s impact (relevant to Target 15.2).
• Financial contributions (implied): The entire article is a call for donations to the “Future Forest Fund.” The total amount of money raised through these tax-deductible donations would be a key performance indicator for the partnership’s success (relevant to Target 17.17).

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: dnr.state.mn.us