$5.31 million in funding is available for the Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program (CPL) for Minnesota habitat, prairies, forests and wetlands restoration. This is now the third year that the grant program has been in place. The funding is provided by the Outdoor Heritage Fund and managed by the Department of Natural Resources. This year each grant ranges from $5,000-$400,000.

One of the past grantees was The Nature Conservancy. "The Restoration of Critical Forest Habitat in Northeast MN" is a project spanning over 2010 and 2011 with a funding amount of $250,000. The photo, courtesy of The Nature Conservancy, captures an effort to restore the natural ecosystem for wildlife to flourish. The woman in the photo is a Minnesota Conservation Corp worker planting a tiny white cedar seedling in the Superior National Forest. Specifically, the project will include ongoing work to protect the forest from disease and eliminate competition in the forest.

The groups eligible to receive the grants are local, regional, state, and national non-profit organizations. This includes government entities. The application for funding must be submitted online and the deadline for entries is September 15, 2011 at 5pm central time. To apply for FY2012, visit the CPL website.

© Coldsnap Photography