Subdivision 1. The Minnesota forests for the future program identifies and protects private, working forest lands for their timber, scenic, recreational, fish and wildlife habitat, threatened and endangered species, and other cultural and environmental values.
Subd. 2. For the purpose of this section, the following terms have the meanings given:...
(5) “working forest land” means land that provides a broad range of goods and services, including forest products, recreation, fish and wildlife habitat, clean air and water, and carbon sequestration.
Subd. 3. The commissioner of natural resources shall establish and administer a Minnesota forests for the future program. Land selected for inclusion in the program shall be evaluated on the land's potential for:...
(4) providing ecological, fish and wildlife habitat, and other cultural and environmental values and values consistent with working forest lands...
Citation: M.S.A. § 84.66.
...Subd. 5. The Clean Water Council shall recommend priorities for scheduling and preparing TMDL's and TMDL implementation plans, taking into account the severity of the impairment, the designated uses of those waters, and other applicable federal TMDL requirements. In recommending priorities, the council shall also give consideration to waters and watersheds:...
(2) with impairments that pose the greatest potential risk to threatened or endangered species...
Citation: M.S.A. § 114D.20.
Subdivision 1. A natural resources capital improvement program is established to prioritize among eligible public projects to be funded from state bond proceeds appropriated to the commissioner and distinctly specified for the purposes of the program established in this section and in accordance with the standards and criteria set forth in this section.
Subd. 2. The purpose of the natural resources capital improvement program is to improve the management and conservation of the natural resources of the state, including recreational, scientific and natural areas, and wild game and fish, through the acquisition and betterment of public lands, buildings, and improvements of a capital nature...
Subd. 4. (a) The following criteria must be considered:...
(2) urgency in providing for the conservation of the natural resources of the state, including protection of threatened and endangered species and waters...
Citation: M.S.A. § 86A.12.
Subdivision 1.
(a) In determining what critical natural habitat shall be acquired or improved, the commissioner shall consider:...
(2) the significance of the land, water, or habitat improvement to maintain or enhance native plant, fish, or wildlife species designated as endangered or threatened under section 84.0895...
Subd. 2. The critical natural habitat acquired in fee title by the commissioner under this section shall be designated by the commissioner as:
(1) an outdoor recreation unit pursuant to section 86A.07, subdivision 3, or
(2) as provided in sections 89.018, subdivision 2, paragraph (a), 97A.101, 97A.125, and 97C.001.
The commissioner may so designate any critical natural habitat acquired in less than fee title.
Subd. 3. The commissioner must follow the procedures under section 97A.145, subdivision 2, for critical natural habitat acquired under this section.
Citation: M.S.A. § 84.944.
...Subd. 5. (a) A state scientific and natural area shall be established to protect and perpetuate in an undisturbed natural state those natural features which possess exceptional scientific or educational value.
(b) No unit shall be authorized as a scientific and natural area unless its proposed location substantially satisfies the following criteria:
(1) embraces natural features of exceptional scientific and educational value, including but not limited to any of the following:...
(v) a habitat supporting a vanishing, rare, endangered, or restricted species of plant or animal...
Citation: M.S.A. § 86A.05.