VFVC Initiative Overview and Objectives

The Vital Forests / Vital Communities Initiative develops and implements strategies that promote the connection between a healthy forest-based economy, healthy forest ecosystems and healthy communities.

The Vital Forests / Vital Communities Initiative Advisory Board has formalized the following Initiative objectives (desired directions for change):

• Forested Land Base and Resource
• Maintain Minnesota’s forest resource base and reduce losses caused by conversion, parcelization, and fragmentation of private lands and disposal of public lands.
• Capture and enhance the productivity of Minnesota’s forests for forest products and consumption.
• Forest Management
• Establish ecologically-based forest management as the norm in Minnesota.
• Increase the number of acres of private, non-industrial woodland being actively and sustainably managed.
• Increase public understanding of forest management and practices and the role they play in ensuring resource health, quality, and productivity for vital communities.
• Economic Development
• Create new products and markets for Minnesota’s wood products industry.
• Enhance the operating efficiency and economic viability of Minnesota’s wood products industry.
• Increase the number of acres of private woodland and number of forest products companies under third-party certification.
• Increase the capacity of the forest management services sector (ex: logging operators, professional foresters).