Scientific and Natural Areas are exceptional places where native plants and animals flourish; where rare species are protected; and where we can know, and study, Minnesota's fascinating natural features. They protect natural features of exceptional scientific or educational value including: native plant communities, populations of rare species, and geological features. Protection of multiple sites
in each landscape region is a vital means of capturing the genetic diversity and preventing the loss of important species, communities, and features. This strategy observes the wisdom of not putting all our eggs in one basket. Scientific and Natural Areas are public lands open to recreational activities that do not disturb natural conditions, such as bird-watching, nature photography, and hiking. SNAs are established for their outstanding ecological features, which we want people to enjoy. You may see management activities such as prescribed burns and control of invasive species. The primary activity is the establishment of system of nature preserves called Scientific and Natural Areas. This system is found across Minnesota's landscape. The Program's long-range goal is to protect at least: Five locations of plant communities known to occur in each landscape region Three locations per region of each rare species, plant or animal, and geological feature. It is estimated that 500 natural areas are needed throughout the state to adequately protect significant features. Because over 40 percent of these rare features occur in prairies, 200 natural areas would be in the prairie area of the state. Of the remainder, approximately 135 are estimated to be needed in the deciduous and 165 in coniferous forest landscape communities in the next 100 years. All visitors must follow our Terms of Use for Social Media Channels: mndnr.gov/site_tools/terms_of_service.html
