On May 16, 2023 there will be an important opportunity to speak up in-person for conservation in Wisconsin

Conservation groups hope to keep the project alive and are searching for new avenues after legislators on the state’s powerful finance committee blocked a key funding request.

Gov. Evers’ 2023-25 biennial budget proposal makes several key investments, including for the conservation and preservation of public lands through the state’s Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.

The conservation community is concerned for the future of the Pelican River Forest after the Joint Finance Committee voted along party lines to reject a $4 million Knowles Nelson grant.

The legislature’s Joint Finance Committee is under fire for ruthlessly denying funding for several requests, including the largest land conservation project in state history.

Twelve committee members brushed aside public opinion and concern for Wisconsin’s environment in order to cast their votes against land and water conservation.

The Wisconsin DNR pledged to get local governments more involved in the process of land conservation.

Land trusts are forced to alter their land conservation strategies to avoid project delays.

People spent a lot of time outside during the pandemic and that trend appears to be continuing, but the state’s financial support of outdoor recreation has been on a long decline.

Proposed changes to the Stewardship Program would decrease the Legislature’s power to anonymously halt conservation projects like the Pelican River Forest.

A review of past budget documents by Wisconsin Watch revealed the practice of secret vetoes under both Republican and Democratic control.

While the Oneida County Board discusses a resolution opposing the Pelican River Forest project, another local government passed a resolution in support of it.

The committee is charged with reviewing and possibly amending the county’s resolution in opposition to the Pelican River Forest project.

The future of the Pelican River Forest is uncertain as leaders debate the project’s economic and environmental impact.

Board member Greg Kazmierski fears funding for land management has not kept up with the need.

A resolution opposing the project is full of inaccuracies. An ad hoc committee will spend the next two months researching the project before returning to the full board with its recommendation.

Anonymous objectors can hold up popular land conservation projects in Wisconsin. Tony Evers’ budget will seek to end the practice.

A member of the Joint Finance Committee has objected to the Pelican River Forest project and the committee has not yet scheduled a hearing.

Funding for the Pelican River Forest is held up indefinitely until the Joint Finance Committee holds a hearing.

Polling shows that nine out of 10 Wisconsinites support the Knowles-Nelson stewardship initiative.

The future of the Pelican River Forest is unclear after an anonymous objection by a lawmaker on the state’s Joint Finance Committee.

Lawmakers on the state’s finance committee are objecting to what would be the largest land conservation effort in Wisconsin history, threatening to halt the project altogether.

The 70,000 acres of woods, wetlands, and rivers meant to be a crown jewel of conservation in Wisconsin are now in limbo because of an anonymous lawmaker on the state’s Joint Finance Committee.

The purchase was partly funded by a $118,500 grant from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.

Governor Evers can act today to fund stalled projects.

Funding for the project was approved unanimously by the DNR’s Natural Resources Board, but is now on “hold” after an anonymous objection by a member of the Joint Finance Committee.

This growth of the outdoor recreation industry shows the importance of being outside and the impact to our economy.

Knowles-Nelson funds will be used to expand the downtown Riverwalk and demolish a building with environmental and stability concerns.

An anonymous legislator, without any public explanation, has blocked the largest land conservation project in state history.

More than a dozen times, key initiatives to protect invaluable natural areas have been blocked by legislators who ignore their own rules.

The Pelican River Forest would be the largest land conservation deal in Wisconsin history.

Revisiting the political maneuvering that nearly scuttled the Cedar Gorge Clay Bluffs Nature Preserve offers guidance on how the Wisconsin state government should spend some of its enormous cash surplus.

Evers’ veto is secure, but some uncertainty remains for Stewardship funding

A conservation easement of more than 56,000 acres would result in the largest project to date to receive approval.

The purchase of the property was finalized days after Gov. Evers awarded $2.3 million through the American Rescue Plan Act to fund the project.

Governor Evers allocated funds through the American Rescue Plan after a grant through the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program was stalled by an anonymous objection.

Funding through the American Rescue Plan will support five conservation projects that were awarded Knowles-Nelson grants.

County officials are preparing for the September acquisition of the Cedar Gorge Clay Bluffs Nature Preserve in Port Washington.

Ozaukee County is likely to receive $450,000 in federal funds to purchase the property that is being eyed by an anonymous developer.

250 miles of Lake Michigan, Superior, and Huron shoreline are listed as at high risk erosion.

Residents celebrate the grand opening of a new promenade in the iconic Sturgeon Bay.

The Cedar Gorge Clay Bluffs project is creating ripple effects throughout the conservation community.

218 acres in the Northwoods will be forever protected after a $203,000 grant.

A motion to allocate $1 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds failed to pass, falling three votes short of the two-thirds majority needed.

The Ice Age Trail Alliance awarded its prestigious Henry S. Reuss Award to Rep. Loudenbeck for her work on the Joint Finance Committee in support of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.

The Wisconsin DNR will manage the public conservancy, which sits next to the McCann Creek State Fishery Area.

A legislator on the Joint Finance Committee confirms that the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program grant for the Cedar Gorge Clay Bluffs Nature Preserve is unlikely to get a second look for approval.

The Joint Finance Committee awarded a $392,000 Knowles-Nelson grant to the Village of Sister Bay to offset the purchase of the waterfront property.

Ozaukee Washington Land Trust hopes to acquire the 131-acre the Cedar Gorge Clay Bluffs property, but funding through the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program is stalled by an anonymous lawmaker.

Companion bills sponsored by a pair of northern Wisconsin Republicans would allow conservation lands acquired through state grants to be sold for private use.

A bill recently introduced by Republican state lawmakers would loosen requirements for selling land bought with Knowles-Nelson funds.

The organization lauded work by Gov. Evers and Rep. Born to renew Knowles-Nelson and to approve an increase in the price of the state waterfowl stamp.

A bill introduced by Tomahawk Senator Mary Felzkowski would make it easier for for groups or governments to sell public lands acquired with Knowles-Nelson dollars.

The Wisconsin Legislature is considering a bill to allow the sale of Knowles-Nelson conservation lands.

The conservancy added the land to the Devil’s Backbone State Natural Area near the town of Glen Haven.

Conserving nature could curb climate change.

Land that was formerly slated to be the site of a nuclear power plant is now protected by Landmark Conservancy.

Wisconsinites love our parks, but how these spaces are funded is not sustainable.

Mississippi Valley Conservancy recently purchased 44 acres, adding to a contiguous corridor of protected blufflands of more than 1,200 acres.

Knowles-Nelson grant would expand Lake Wausau city park.

The Pelican River Forest will link the Oneida County Forest and Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, straddling the divide between the Lake Superior and Mississippi River basins.

3.5 miles of new mountain bike trail at Willow River State Park was funded in part by the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.

The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program funded upgrades to Kenosha County Veterans Memorial Park.

Advocates for a local network of recreational trails are promoting a major step forward for the planned extension of a trail in Racine County.

Door County Land Trust announces the protection of ecologically rich forest and wetland habitat within the Gibraltar-Ephraim Swamp State Natural Area

The Nature Conservancy acquired 80 acres of forest adjacent to a 221-acre parcel recently added to Devil’s Lake State Park

A stewardship grant would fund the purchase of 10 acres in Waupaca County to expand the Ice Age Trail.

Legislature and governor reauthorize program to help preserve natural areas, wildlife habitat, and recreation.

The 2021-2023 Wisconsin budget signed by Governor Evers includes a reauthorization of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program for four years and a price increase for the state waterfowl stamp.

A funding tool used to protect land, build trails, and manage forests is approved for renewal for four years in the next Wisconsin State Budget.

Other environmental initiatives also reduced, including Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.

Lower funding level will make it more difficult for Wisconsin DNR to tackle backlog of maintenance projects.

Gov. Evers proposal of $70M a year for 10 years reduced by Legislature’s state budget committee.

Gathering Waters sits down with BHA to explore the benefits and challenges of Knowles-Nelson.

This win for conservation was years in the making.

Door County’s support reflects millions of dollars to complete hundreds of projects through Knowles-Nelson.

The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program has protected thousands of special places since 1989.

Knowles-Nelson is important bipartisan tool to conserve Wisconsin’s natural heritage and support local economies.

City leaders “ecstatic” to finally receive promised Knowles-Nelson grant.

Let your elected officials know how much you value the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.

Gathering Waters and Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region join radio interview to discuss importance of Knowles-Nelson.

Conservationists across the state joined “The Morning Show” on WPR to talk about the many benefits of Knowles-Nelson.

Counties call on legislature to renew program, citing importance of Knowles-Nelson investment in their communities.

With help from Knowles-Nelson, Vilas County celebrates expansion of Great Headwaters Trail system.

Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program will be vital to acquire, protect working forests and public lands.

City leaders, local lawmakers bewildered by objection from anonymous Joint Finance Committee member.

Ambitious plan to fight climate change, support recreation and the timber industry will be challenging without Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund.

Many projects would not exist without Stewardship funding.

Governor emphasized importance of public lands to prevent flooding, get people outside, fight climate change, and more.

Gov. Evers’s plan calls for reauthorization of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program for another decade at $70 million annually.

Re-passage of Knowles-Nelson will help create more trail connections and increased visitation.

Knowles-Nelson grants in the Fox Valley have benefitted 170 projects totaling $18 million.

Outdoor recreation in the Northwoods has been bolstered by Stewardship investment.

There are still a myriad of lands and ecosystems that need protection in Wisconsin, Cole says.

Member of the Rock Trail Coalition Ice Age Trail Advocacy Committee stresses the importance of telling your lawmakers you support the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.

Wisconsin’s natural resources are more popular than ever.

Funding for natural areas is crucial to supporting quality of life.

With help of Knowles-Nelson, Landmark Conservancy seeks to make geologic wonder safer for visitors.

Board requests 25 years of continued Stewardship funding.

Northwoods parks and trails created by Knowles-Nelson have been popular destinations during pandemic.