The Legislature has started its busiest period of the next two years, six months of fairly constant work that culminates in the passage of the state's biennial budget. While many issues of concern to conservationists are in play—for example, the DNR's budget, of most concern is the state's Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.
This program has for many years provided most of the funding for the state and its conservation partners in local government and non-profit organizations to buy land for habitat and public, outdoor recreation. It has funded park and public access improvements. It has been an outstanding success with many thousands of acres protected and open to the public and hundreds of improvements. If the Legislature and Governor renew and fund Stewardship, those successes will continue for many years. If the program lapses, the ability of the DNR, local governments, and conservation organizations to purchase natural areas, hunting grounds, parks, public access to lakes, rivers, and streams, and trails wilts. Governor Evers has pledged his support for Stewardship so the action on this issue is in the Legislature.
Don't take my word for Stewardship's achievements. Please use this link provided by Gathering Waters to reach an interactive map showing the thousands of grants distributed to support land protection. Interacting will enable you to discover Stewardship projects from every part of Wisconsin. You'll be pleased by the amount and variety of the natural resources that Stewardship has protected and opened for public enjoyment. Yes, it's easy to use; even I spent a successful happy 15 minutes with it.
Gathering Waters (GW) is the state-wide consortium of land trusts; its staff provides a variety of assistance to Wisconsin land trusts, including Madison Audubon. The Stewardship Fund is vital to many land trusts' mission of protecting lands, waters, and habitat and GW is one of the organizations leading our efforts to persuade the Legislature to renew and fund Stewardship.
Prairies like this are made possible in part from Stewardship Program support. Photo by Brenna Marsicek
In fact, the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program has helped Madison Audubon add over 2,700 acres to our holdings since 1995, including at our beloved Goose Pond and Faville Grove Sanctuaries. That is an incredible asset to not just our organization, but also the birds, wildlife, plants, and people who enjoy it.
Example of a postcard sent to elected officials to show support for the Stewardship Program. Image by Brenna Marsicek
The link to GW provides more history on Stewardship and why it needs to be renewed and funded. In an effort to help you contact your legislators in an easy and memorable fashion, GW has launched a postcard program. You can create a unique, personal postcard featuring a favorite Wisconsin natural scene and send it to your legislators.
Please check that out as you consider advocating for the Stewardship Program. I make this request respectfully on behalf of Madison Audubon. The Madison Audubon Board has allocated $5,000 as part of the funding GW needs to lobby the Legislature on Stewardship. We did not make this decision lightly and reviewed GW's plan as part of our research. Nor is Stewardship as presently constituted a great fit for Madison Audubon. Unless the land being acquired is urban, most Stewardship grants require that land be open for a wide variety of uses, including hunting and trapping. Neither National Audubon nor Madison Audubon opposes legal and ethical hunting. Many Madison Audubon members hunt. However, the Madison Audubon does not believe that most forms of hunting are compatible with our lands, which we manage as wildlife sanctuaries with particular protection for birds.
Nevertheless, Stewardship is critically important to preserve and restore habitat for all of Wisconsin's native flora and fauna, including many birds dear to our hearts. Thus, Madison Audubon's support.
Visitors enjoy Sue Aimes prairie in the height of summer. This prairie directly benefitted from a KN Stewardship grant. Photo by Arlene Koziol
So, check out GW's great ideas for advocating for Stewardship and please give some a try. And, stay tuned. I hope many of you will have the chance to talk directly with legislators over the next few months. Part Two of this blog will have some tips for dealing with that form of wild life.
Take care and stay healthy,
Topf Wells, Madison Audubon board member and advocacy committee chair
