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Wisconsin Governor Secures Federal Funding for Historic Land Conservation

Tony Evers bypasses GOP opposition to protect nearly 70,000 acres of the Pelican River Forest.

Snowmobilers ride a trail Thursday, December 29, 2022 in the Pelican River Forest between Rhinelander and Crandon, Wis. It is bisected by Highway 8 east of Rhinelander and straddles the Great Lakes and Mississippi River watersheds.In October, the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board signed off on a $15.5 million conservation easement for more than 56,000 acres in northern Wisconsin.It is the largest land conservation effort in state history. It will secure permanent access for public recreation, continue timber management and keep the tract free from development.
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Overview

  • Governor Tony Evers has secured federal funding for the largest land conservation purchase in Wisconsin's history, bypassing Republican opposition in the Legislature.
  • The project involves the purchase of a nearly 70,000-acre property known as the Pelican River Forest in northern Wisconsin.
  • Republicans in the Legislature's budget committee had previously blocked spending stewardship dollars on the project due to concerns about its economic impact.
  • The Conservation Fund, a Virginia-based national land conservation group, owns the land. The easement guarantees the land will be left in an undeveloped state with public access for hunting, fishing, trapping and motorized recreation.
  • The conservation project has received support from local governments, Native Nations, outdoor advocacy groups, local businesses and Wisconsinites, despite opposition from some local officials and lawmakers.