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A Need for Conservation

Minnesota and the surrounding Northern environment is an astonishing place, as anyone who has ever visited these pristine
locations can appreciate. These iconic places are what Minnesota is known for, Thick pine forests lacing the cold spring fed rivers
and streams. Stands of Oak, Maple, Ash, and Birch…. that catch ablaze with color every autumn skirting a glass still lake, a lone
loon sounds a haunting call to a mate…. a bass jumping in the lilies for that unsuspecting dinner….songbirds fluttering about in the
shoreline brush….a whitetail fawn bedded on a riverbank enjoying the warmth of the sun and convenience to a drink…. a eagle
gracefully snaps a fish out of the water with pinpoint accuracy. These are some of the beauties that we can all share in Minnesota,
and have always embraced in our culture as the land of 10,000+ lakes. A great deal of our tourism and state economy is supported
by these things as is our way of life whether it is: hiking, birdwatching, photography, fishing, hunting, snowshoeing, camping,
paddling, or enjoying nature in any other way.

The goal of the Northern Preservation & Restoration Society is to embrace, protect, and restore these icons. There are unfortunately
many threats to the natural world around us, as well as caused by us. These threats have to be brought to light, and changes must
be made to to protect these valuable natural resources and conserve our natural areas. Habitat is being destroyed, many times
even unknowingly for more development, or for a more aesthetic appeal. Habitat is also being fragmented hindering wildlife
species that occupy it. Invasive species are being transported and spread, destroying natural conditions of the environment and
outcompeting our treasured native species. Poor land management practices occur and diminish both the land and wildlife that
inhabit those areas.

There is MUCH that we can do, this does not mean that our way of life gets drastically impacted by making the changes necessary
to better conserve our natural areas. There are several things that are however necessary to make a change for our Northwood’s
and each of these deals with a varying aspect needing to be addressed. Education is a huge element that can address the way we
manage “our own backyards” and areas we use for recreation. Many of the issues involving resource/habitat destruction and the
spreading of invasive species can be changed with education. Research is another key area that needs to be a focus point to find
better ways to restore and manage and learn the story behind environmental issues. Restoration is also important to bring already
degraded areas back to a natural, self-sustaining state that supports wildlife that lives there. Clean water is something we all
depend on and often times don’t take into consideration nature’s way of cleaning these water sources and over-stress natural
systems. Most of the above does cost money as well, so there is an additional factor of funding to support research, restoration,
and management. The biggest funding issues are state and federal, and donating to private or non-profit environmental
organizations helps to offset these costs as well. Another key aspect to ensure this happens is legislative action. The more we
lobby and show how many conscientious Minnesotans care the more political attention is placed on funding for our environment.

There are many engines that drive change in our environment today and many different ways to make a difference. Educating others
and raising awareness, volunteering time to restore native areas, Voicing your opinions about our environment and specific bills
concerning it to state and federal legislature, donating to local nonprofit conservation organizations, are all ways to make a
difference, every bit counts. Let's start making a difference to preserve our natural treasures today. Have a wonderful day.

-Northern Preservation & Restoration Society. Copyright 2010.

"When looking for the key to
conservation in today’s world,
perhaps the best direction to
look… is inward."

-Jesse Amo ~founder of the
Northern Preservation &
Restoration Society

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