Taylor Scott with the Valley Sentinel reports that Governor Evers recently completed visits of several natural areas across Wisconsin that have benefitted from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, ending his tour at Spring Green Preserve State Natural Area.
Spring Green Preserve, a “nearly 1,400 acre State Natural Area of unique sand prairie, bluffs and oak barrens,” is owned by the Nature Conservancy, who hosted Evers’s visit. The governor got to walk the property and learn about prescribed burning, native species, and the climate change research being done at the site.
Afterwards, the Nature Conservancy’s Deputy State Director, Matt Dallman, “emphasized the value of preserving ecosystems like the Preserve provides,” especially using the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, which the governor’s budget proposes renewing for another decade at increased funding levels.
“Our best science tells us that we need to conserve additional natural lands for both people and nature,” Dallman said. “Stewardship dollars work to harness the powerful solutions nature provides to fight climate change.”
Governor Evers agreed, adding that natural areas also proved vital during COVID-19.
“We’ve found during this pandemic how important being outside is. We’ve seen it in the state parks, the folks here have certainly seen it, and it’s going to continue afterwards too,” said Evers. “We’ve created a need, and we have to make sure we do it because it’s the right thing, not only for getting outside but preserving what is great for the state of Wisconsin.”
To support Governor Evers’s budget proposal, contact your legislators and ask them to reauthorize the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.
Featured image by Joshua Mayer, 2016.
