A Landmark Conservation Win in Minnesota’s Northwoods
Today, the Nature Conservancy (TNC) announced a major conservation milestone: the permanent protection of 12,271 acres of forest and freshwater habitat north of Two Harbors, Minnesota. This is the organization’s largest land acquisition in the state in 25 years, expanding the Sand Lake/Seven Beavers Preserve to nearly 18,600 acres and linking together more than 40,000 acres of connected protected land.
The newly acquired land includes wetlands rich with wildlife, winding rivers, and clean lakes that form part of the Great Lakes Northwoods—a globally significant region for biodiversity and climate resilience. Vast peatland forests anchor this landscape, filtering water, storing carbon, and providing habitat for rare plants, carnivorous species, and boreal songbirds.
This protected area offers habitat for moose, gray wolves, black bears, and migratory birds, while also safeguarding the headwaters of both the Rainy River and the St. Louis River—critical waterways that eventually flow into the Boundary Waters and Lake Superior.
TNC will restore forest and wetland habitat using climate-smart forestry, sustainable harvesting, and tree planting, including in areas burned by the 2021 Greenwood Fire. These efforts aim to build a more resilient landscape that supports both wildlife and carbon storage.
“By conserving the forests and waters here, we’re ensuring connected wildlife habitat, healthier forests, clean water and continued public access now, and for generations to come,” said Ann Mulholland, director of The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
The property will remain open to the public for recreation, including hiking, hunting, snowshoeing, and skiing.
This acquisition is a reminder that large-scale conservation is still possible. Every protected wetland, forest, and river corridor strengthens the ecological fabric that sustains moose, songbirds, and countless other species across the Northwoods.
Read more from The Nature Conservancy and Minnesota Public Radio about this landmark achievement.
