DNR to study increased timber harvest

Timber is the fifth-largest manufacturing industry in Minnesota and the state will examine whether it can further strengthen the sector by boosting its annual timber harvest by 20 percent.

Forest Boe, director of the Department of Natural Resources Forestry Division, told the House Subcommittee on Mining, Forestry and Tourism Wednesday that Minnesota has harvested an average of 800,000 cords of wood annually from state-owned land over the last 15 years.

But that average is based on an aging forest sustainability study the DNR is working to update.

“Our goal is to determine if 1 million cords is sustainable off of state lands,” Boe said.

If all goes as planned, the updated study should be complete by this time next year.

WATCH Full video of Wednesday's meeting of the House Subcommittee on Mining, Forestry and Tourism on YouTube