“All ethics so far evolved rest upon a single premise: that the individual is a member of a community of interdependent parts. The land ethic simply enlarges the boundaries of the community to include soils, waters, plants and animals, or collectively the land.” Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac
Copper-Nickel Mining
Copper mining proposed at the headwaters of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area threatens the world-class fishing and hunting opportunities that the BWCA provides and the booming outdoor recreation economy that it supports.
In January 2023, a 20-year mineral withdrawal was announced by the Department of the Interior. The monumental decision ensures future generations of hunters, anglers, and Wilderness paddlers will bring their children to fish for lake trout, chase grouse, and share a campfire under the stars in America’s most visited Wilderness for decades to come.
On the heels of the announced 20-year mineral withdrawal, vital legislation at both the state and federal levels represent the final step towards ensuring Boundary Waters protection in perpetuity from sulfide-ore copper mining.
As the state of Minnesota moves forward with a conservation framework that allows for protection of our public lands and waters, as well as the responsible development of iron ore, taconite, logging, and other industries that have existed in Northern Minnesota for generations, Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters remains committed to protecting the integrity of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and its watersheds for huntable and fishable populations of fish and wildlife, now and forever through advocacy and education.
Minnesota Moose
Northeastern Minnesota is home to the last stronghold of moose in the state. The region’s population of this animal has been in decline since 2006. That year an estimated 8,800 moose still roamed across Lake, Cook, and St. Louis counties. More recently, the moose population has stabilized. Hunting for moose ended in 2012, and the latest estimate places the region’s moose population at 4700.
History shows the distribution and abundance of moose and other members of the cervid family have undergone dramatic shifts in this corner of the state since European settlement. From ticks to brain parasites, moose face a grim future if we do not step in to defend this iconic species.
Through science-based, collaborative efforts with state and local wildlife management agencies, Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters works to address habitat issues for moose in Minnesota, intending to preserve and restore habitat and increase the Moose population. Through locally-led conservation initiatives, we aim to increase moose population numbers to a sustainable population for multi-purpose use.
Our ultimate goal for the future of our moose in Minnesota is to reach a point where the population is healthy, stable, and growing. So that one day, we may bring back to Minnesota one of North America’s most iconic big-game backcountry hunts.
Chronic Wasting Disease
Chronic Wasting Disease is one of the most significant threats to deer populations and wildlife conservation that we have encountered over the last century. As many states have learned, preventing the spread of this always-fatal cervid disease is a daunting task. Once located, early detection and rapid response are critical for long-term management. Although new cases have been found in areas of the state thought free of the disease, Minnesota is currently well-positioned to combat CWD and keep infection rates low. To maintain this offensive position, those who interact with wild and captive deer must act with the utmost care for the wild deer population.
SFBW understands the value of protecting Minnesota’s deer hunting heritage and wild deer herds from the spread of CWD. Deer hunting is a deep-rooted tradition amongst Minnesotans. Nearly 500,000 deer hunting licenses are purchased across the state each year, and deer hunting alone generates $500 million annually in total economic activity for the state, reflecting how crucial deer hunting is to Minnesota’s outdoor economy.
SFBW is a member of the MN CWD Coalition with a diverse group of hunting and conservation organizations and also works directly with the MN Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to combat the disease.
The Boundary Waters in the Land and Water Conservation Fund
There are 82,400 acres of School Trust Lands in the Boundary Waters that are caught in the balance of this reauthorization conflict today. In 2012, those school trust lands (in the Boundary Waters but unable to contribute to the Trust) were slated to be purchased using funds from LWCF.
School Trust Lands, which are legislatively mandated to produce revenue for funding Minnesota’s public schools on industrial timberlands, can be used for their intended purpose. Additionally, the existing School Trust Lands in the Boundary Waters would be transferred to Federal ownership, making land already in the Wilderness Area subject to the same management as the rest of the Wilderness.
Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters continues to support permanent reauthorization, funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and funding for projects in Minnesota that benefit outdoor recreation, land, water, and wildlife.