Forest Management and Wildlife Habitat Symposium 2026

The Forest Management and Wildlife Habitat Symposium is a two-day, in person event held at the Cloquet Forestry Center that will feature researchers and forest managers sharing science-based management approaches for conserving, enhancing, and sustaining wildlife habitat in Minnesota Forests.

Learning Objectives

Day 1 - Landscape-Level Focus:

• Raise awareness among natural resource professionals of existing conservation resources such as Minnesota’s Wildlife Action Plan (2025–2035) and related conservation frameworks in guiding habitat management priorities.
• Describe and build understanding of current trends in Minnesota’s forest conditions and forest-dependent wildlife populations using statewide datasets, monitoring programs, and status assessments.
• Share opportunities for cross-boundary collaboration and regional conservation initiatives that align forest management actions with landscape-scale wildlife strategies and goals.

Day 2 - Site-Level Focus:

• Identify and describe key habitat features (e.g., cavity trees, legacy structures, vernal pools, bottomland systems, lowland conifers) that contribute disproportionately to biodiversity and wildlife life-cycle requirements.
• Increase understanding of how to incorporate science-based management guidance into silvicultural prescriptions to improve outcomes for wildlife habitat, climate resilience, and forest health.