Minnesota drivers now have four new nature license plates to choose from in addition to the now-famous loon and deer designs that help pay for conservation projects.
State officials picked a black-capped chickadee, a showy lady slipper flower, a white tail buck and a fishing scene from among eight entries. They based their decision in part on the votes of more than 29,000 respondents.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Minnesota Department of Public Safety unveiled the new plates Friday in the Twin Cities. Officials hope the new designs will help spur renewed interest and increased sales, with the money going for to the DNR to buy land to set aside for fish and wildlife.
"It has been a long time since we issued a new plate, so to rev up the RIM [Reinvest in Minnesota] program, we are giving motorists more ways to show their conservation colors and individual identity," DNR Commissioner Mark Holsten said in a statement.
The critical habitat plate program was created in 1995 to support land acquisition efforts for key species. Motorists who purchase a critical habitat plate make a minimum annual contribution of $30 to the RIM Program above and beyond the usual cost to license their vehicle.
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The donations have generated more than
$25 million toward the purchase of 7,700 acres of critical habitat and have helped pay for nongame research and surveys, habitat enhancement and educational programs. Money has also gone to buy public hunting areas as well as native prairie, old-growth forest, wetlands, lake and river frontage and to conduct species surveys.
More than 100,000 motorists have habitat plates on their vehicles but plate sales have leveled off in recent years. The plates were designed by DNR staff and are manufactured at the Department of Corrections' Rush City prison.
The plates are available at county deputy registrar offices or can be purchased through the Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services at (651) 297-3304 or go to www.mvrenewal.state .
mn.us.
