NESOTA 
NSERVATION 
Commissioner 
 
 
To the Honorable Edward J. Thye, Governor, 
and to the Minnesota Legislature of 1945: 
 
 
           Answering numerous inquiries about the biennial report of 
the conservation department, the printing has been unavoidably delayed 
on account of war-time difficulties. The printer has promised it for 
about February 1. Meantime, for the information of all who may be 
interested, this brief preview of some of the salient features is 
submitted. 
 
                       Conservation Work Program 
                  An Outline of Major Recommendations 
 
 
           For the purpose of emphasis at the outset and for the con- 
venience of those interested, the more important recommendations 
embraced in the long-range conservation program discussed in detail 
in the text of the report are outlined below. 
 
           1. In view of the dependence upon natural resources of 
the future welfare and standard of living of the state, and in consid- 
eration of the benefits accruing to the entire state from conservation 
thereof, far outweighing the cost, state conservation activities of all 
types should be financed by adequate appropriations from'general revenue,

except wild life conservation, which is supported from special dedicated

receipts. 
 
           2. In recognition of the vital importance of forests to the 
economy and general welfare of the state, ample funds should be provided

for substantial expansion of the present inadequate forces of the 
Division of Forestry for forest fire control and other forest conservation

measures, in accordance with the requests of the Division of Forestry and

the recommendations of the Legislative Interim Commission on Forestry. 
This is the most urgent immediate need in the whole field of conservation.

 
           3.  Recognizing that soil conservation is essential to the 
existence and economic welfare of the population, adequate state apnro- 
priations and other provision should be made for expansion of this 
activity, in accordance with recommendations of the State Soil Conservation

Committee. This is universally regarded as the major long-range problem 
in the entire conservation program.