St. Louis County Land Department presents
People and Forests
Saint Louis County, Minnesota manages the largest county forest in the nation at just under 900,000 acres. Geographically, St. Louis County reaches from Duluth at the western tip of Lake Superior to the Canadian border, 125 miles north. Our topography is as varied as the scope of the land, from Canadian shield lakes in the north to glacial drift areas and vast wetlands in the southwest. Over 80% of the county is forested. Timber as a raw material is vital to our economy, but tourism and emerging activities such as bird watching are becoming important parts of our northern lifestyle. Since the glaciers' retreat mankind has lived here and interacted with our natural surroundings. It is critical that we help people understand what we are doing on the land, and why. People and Forests is a thoughtful look at northern Minnesota and that relationship. The program takes a regional approach to how we interact with our forests and is relevant in Wisconsin and Michigan as well as Minnesota.
Since seedlings first sprouted in the wake of the Ice Age glaciers, the northern landscape has evolved and changed over time. Throughout the last 10,000 years, boreal forests, an oak savanna, and even prairie grasslands have dominated the region. Although climate has played a major role in affecting these changes, human beings have also had important and increasingly significant influence. Today, people and forests have never been more closely linked. Part documentary and part examination of modern forest management techniques, People and Forests is a thought-provoking attempt to decipher our forests’ natural and healthy states. In addition, this program reveals that, in terms of managing our forests, unlocking the past can point the way to a healthier future. (Running time: 47:43)
People and Forests Abridged Program
Also included is an abridged version of People and Forests, edited to facilitate shorter venues or an audience whose time is limited. (Running time: 24:25)
People and Forests Grade-School Program
This imaginative and entertaining version of People and Forests has been specifically designed for younger audiences. Poor "Bruce the Spruce" is having a hard time connecting with his audience. See what happens when his puppet show is interrupted by a couple of take-charge kids who just want the facts. Time travel, forest fires, and big machinery are all part of a lively discussion that builds upon the fundamental concept that "Nature Loves Variety." (appropriate for grades 4-6). (Running time: 21:27
The DVD is now available Free at the St. Louis County Land Department Office at 320 W 2nd St., Room 607, Duluth MN
To order a copy, for $10.00 shipping and handling, print out and mail the order form to the St. Louis County Land Department, 320 W 2nd St, Duluth MN 55802.
(pdf format requires Adobe Reader)
The Teacher's Guide is now available online
Teachers Guide
Print Prehistoric and Historic Maps here
What are trees used for? here