Minneapolis Natural Areas Plan: Assessment and Management Recommendations

The city of Minneapolis created the Natural Areas Plan to describe a holistic approach to managing city's the natural areas through system-wide planning and administration to secure and deploy funds, staff, and equipment. 

In a nutshell, this resource offers:

• Principles and concepts for conservation planning and long-term management of urban natural areas.
• Methods for inventory and assessment of natural areas.
• Management recommendations and management briefs for natural areas, based on findings of assessments.
• Cost estimates to improve ecological conditions in natural areas. 

How to use this resource:

• As an example of carrying out a holistic assessment of ecological conditions, funding, and staffing of an urban natural areas management program.
• As a format for conducting assessments and creating management briefs to guide short-term implementation actions.
• As an example of a long-term plan for urban natural areas.

Author: Kim Alan Chapman, Douglas Mensing, Ben Staehlin, Eoghan O'Neill, Sean Jergens, Dan Tinklenberg

Date published: December 2021

Point of contact: James Shaffer, Natural Resources Supervisor, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, JShaffer@minneapolisparks.org. 

Citation: Chapman, K. A., Mensing, D., Staehlin, B., O'Neill, E., Jergens, S., Tinklenberg, D. 2021. Natural Areas Plan - Phase II: Assessment and Management Recommendations: Condensed Version: Executive Summary, Management Briefs and Maps. Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, Minneapolis, MN.

Resource is available online here.