On Wednesday, March 10th Governor Evers released the following statement regarding the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.
My Fellow Wisconsinites,
On behalf of Wisconsinites everywhere, I hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. On February 16, I delivered my second biennial budget address and laid out my Badger Bounceback agenda to help make sure Wisconsin can bounce back from this pandemic better than we were before. Recalling your past concerns, I would like to provide you with an update on my plan to support conservation in Wisconsin.
During its three-decade existence, the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship Program has been a popular and successful way to preserve land for future generations. The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program has a demonstrated history of improving access to outdoor recreation opportunities, protecting critical habitats and environmental health, improving water quality, and building flood resilience, as well as supporting state and local economic development. My budget proposes reauthorizing the Stewardship program for another 10 years with $70 million in annual bonding authority. This proposal, along with other critical investments in conservation and forestry, allows Wisconsin to continue its proud legacy of conserving our natural resources and promoting sustainable economic growth.
Our state’s history and our traditions—from the Indigenous people who were the first stewards of the land, to our farmers who’ve been the backbone of our state for generations, to our outdoor recreation and tourism economy—demand that we embrace a legacy of conservation. We don’t have to choose between mitigating climate change, protecting our environment, and good-paying jobs and economic development. Wisconsin is ready for bold and urgent solutions that will stop treating these goals as mutually exclusive—we can and will do both.
Just as we asked for your help in crafting the budget through our listening sessions, we also need your help to get this budget over the finish line. If you haven’t done so already, please enter your home address here to find the contact information for both your state senator and state representative and write these officials to share your story and why you support our Badger Bounceback budget proposal.
Stay healthy, stay safe, and stay in touch.
Sincerely,
Tony Evers
Governor
P.S. You can also learn more about the governor’s proposal and contact your legislators through Team Knowles-Nelson’s portal here.
Featured image by Larry Lamsa, 2011.
