For Immediate Release: For More
Information, Contact:
June 27, 2007 Dan
Kohler, (608) 251-1918
Wisconsin Environment Celebrates
Stewardship Day
Protection of 10,700
Acres Highlights Value of Stewardship Fund
(Madison)
– In announcing the purchase and conservation of 10,700 acres in eight
Wisconsin counties using the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund, Governor Doyle declared
today “Stewardship Day” in Wisconsin.
“For over fifteen years the Stewardship Fund has
been an amazing success protecting Wisconsin
lands,” stated Dan Kohler, Wisconsin Environment Director. “Whether you like to hike, bike, fish, hunt,
camp, or just enjoy open spaces we can all celebrate stewardship of Wisconsin lands.”
Since 1989, the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund has
protected over 475,000 acres of Wisconsin lands in 71 of 72 Wisconsin
counties. The Stewardship Fund purchases
announced today include parks, forests and open spaces in Douglas, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Marathon, Outagamie, Portage,
Rock, and Waukesha
Counties.
Governor Doyle has called for extending the Stewardship
Fund through 2020 and increasing funding for the program from $60 million to
$105 million in 2011 as part of his 2007-2009 Biennial Budget.
“All across Wisconsin,
our parks, forests and open spaces define our state and make Wisconsin a great place to live,” stated
Kohler. “It is critical we extend the
Stewardship Program, and allocate $105 million annually to preserve our land
heritage.”
Wisconsin Environment looks forward to working with the
Governor’s office and members of the state legislature to extend the
Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund.
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Wisconsin Environment is a statewide,
non-partisan, non-profit environmental advocacy organization and is the new
home of WISPIRG’s environmental work.
