Collaborating with communities to manage and conserve Minnesotan forest
The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, located in northeastern Minnesota, is one of six bands that make up the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. Minnesota's forests are critical to both the state's biodiversity and the livelihoods of Indigenous communities. However, the region faces increasing climate change pressures, with rising temperatures and habitat loss threatening native ecosystems. The Fond du Lac Band, with its deep cultural and spiritual ties to the land, has observed these environmental changes and their impact on traditional ways of life.
To learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals verified by the standard for this project, please check the project's registry link above.
The Fond Du Lac Forest Carbon project focuses on improved forest management practices across over 8,325 acres of forested tribal land. By aiming to maintain forest CO2 stocks above regional baselines, the project hopes to sequester carbon while preventing deforestation. The forest management practices focus on enhancing growth, invasive species control, and biodiversity. Revenue from carbon credits helps the Fond du Lac Band to acquire ancestral lands, invest in renewable energy, and implement community-focused social programs.
The project aims to protect the region and its natural resources; not only to reduce emissions from deforestation but also to prioritise the cultural, spiritual, and physical well-being of the Fond du Lac people. By improving the management of Minnesotan forest, the project helps preserve native species such as black bears, timber wolves, bald eagles, owls, and white-tailed deer.
