Funds from the Stewardship program have been used to protect dozens of wilderness areas for their ecological and recreational value.
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As part of his 2007 to 2009 budget, Gov. Jim Doyle set aside more money than ever before for Wisconsin’s Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund, a program that provides funds to purchase land for conservation and recreation. Wisconsin Environment applauded the governor’s decision and is now working with legislative leaders to make sure Wisconsin’s land legacy is protected for future generations.
Wisconsin’s Stewardship Fund is an innovative public program that protects critical natural areas for their recreational opportunities, for their wildlife habitat, and to preserve water quality in Wisconsin. In addition to direct state acquisition, the Stewardship Fund provides matching grants to local governments and non-profits, giving them extra leverage to protect the areas that they care about.
Wisconsin’s Land Legacy at Risk
From the shores of Lake Michigan in Door County to the bluffs along the Mississippi River near La Crosse, from wild lakes in northern Wisconsin to the parks and bike trails in Madison and Milwaukee, our protected lands define Wisconsin and make our state a great place to live.
Unfortunately, we’re in jeopardy of losing this land heritage. Every day powerful developers are breaking ground on new projects that are destroying our wild lands with resorts, big box stores, condominiums and transmission lines.
The Stewardship Fund
Established in 1989 in honor of former governors Warren Knowles and Gaylord Nelson, the Stewardship program has helped protect more than 477,000 acres of high-quality recreation and environmentally-sensitive land in Wisconsin from development.
The Stewardship program sunsets in 2010, but Gov. Doyle’s new budget includes $105 million per year through 2020 for the Stewardship Fund. Reauthorizing the incredibly successful Stewardship Fund will help protect Wisconsin’s land heritage for future generations. |
