Conservation Minnesota

06/19/2026

"Juneteenth has never been a celebration of victory, or an acceptance of the way things are. It’s a celebration of progress.” — Barack Obama

06/16/2026

"In the shadow of a wind turbine on a low rise just outside the western Minnesota town of Morris, a cluster of tanks, pipes and sheds holds what some believe is the key to a more self-sufficient future for the region’s agriculture and heavy industry."

This wind-powered green ammonia plant could eventually supply raw material for certain fertilizers and transportation fuels.

06/16/2026

The Outdoor School for All initiative—part of last year's Environment Omnibus bill—is Minnesota's first dedicated funding stream for overnight outdoor education programs. Grants through the program make experiences like this possible.

A new grant program approved by state legislators last year is helping more Minnesota students get out of the classroom and into the wild to study science and nature up close and in person. For one group of kids from a St. Paul Spanish immersion school, the trip to the outdoors couldn’t have come ...

06/15/2026

"Much of the clothing that’s tossed away ends up in landfills and produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas and a significant contributor to warming the climate. Decomposing clothes also can release PFAS, or forever chemicals, and microplastics.

And that’s where an innovative machine designed and built by an engineering professor and her students at the University of Minnesota Duluth could help, by recycling unwanted clothing instead of landfilling it."

University of Minnesota Duluth engineering professor Abbie Clarke-Sather’s “fiber shredder” breaks clothing down into reusable threads in 90 seconds. The machine may help recycle clothing and keep it out of landfills.

06/15/2026

Native broadleaf cattail plays well with other Minnesota plants, but invasive hybrid cattails crowd out other plants and cause issues for fish and ecosystems. A new project from the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center aims to help correct that.

This project, part of the Lab to Lakes initiative, is testing invasive cattail management across Minnesota lakes; restoring native nearshore habitats, reconnecting lake ecosystems, supporting healthy fish communities, and empowering local management through participatory science. MAISRC is bringing....

06/15/2026

"A 2024 study in Frontiers in Cancer Control and Society suggests the impact of pesticide use on cancer incidence may rival that of smoking."

After an initial Health and Human Services report linked pesticide overuse to childhood health issues, the agency’s final report last year walked back all regulatory calls and instead pivoted.

06/14/2026

Today marks one year without our friend and champion. We honor her memory by protecting the progress she made possible and creating the change she believed in.

06/11/2026

Free Park Day is this Saturday, June 13, 2026!

Celebrate National Get Outdoors Day this Saturday by visiting a Minnesota state park or recreation area. On Saturday, all Minnesota state park or recreation areas are free to enter, all day, no vehicle entry permits needed. Spend time in nature by packing a picnic, going on a hike, or enjoying a waterfront view. There's a state park or recreation area within 30 miles of most Minnesotans, so take this opportunity to explore someplace new or rediscover an old favorite!

There's a Free Park Day in every season! Learn more about Free Park Day on our website: mndnr.gov/freeparkdays

06/09/2026

"For every dollar invested in parks and recreation, communities reap $3 in local economic benefits each year."

A new report finds that for every dollar invested in parks, cities reap $3 in economic benefits. Here's how.

06/08/2026

"Warmer winters and extended temperatures in spring and fall enable ticks to survive in areas that were previously inhospitable environments, expanding the ranges of animals, like migratory birds and deer, that transport ticks."

Health experts emphasize early detection and prevention as tick activity increases statewide.