DNR: Sales strong for new critical habitat plates

Minnesota car owners have bought 20,000 critical habitat license plates since four new designs were unveiled six months ago.

The Department of Natural Resources says that means there are nearly 120,000 registered vehicles on Minnesota roads that display the colorful conservation plates.

The new designs are a showy ladyslipper flower, a northern Minnesota fishing scene, a white-tailed buck, and a black-capped chickadee. A loon plate, available since 2005, also remains popular.

Revenue generated by the plates has helped purchase over 10,000 acres of critical habitat and support other programs. Motorists who purchase them make a minimum annual contribution of $30 to the Reinvest in Minnesota program that is matched with private donations of cash or land.

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On the Net:

Critical Habitat plates information: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/features/plates/index.html

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