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- Gov. Tony Evers has secured federal funds for the largest land conservation purchase in Wisconsin’s historical past.
- The undertaking includes the purchase of a virtually 70,000-acre property often called the Pelican River Forest in northern Wisconsin.
- Republicans within the Legislature’s finances committee beforehand blocked spending stewardship {dollars} on the undertaking resulting from issues about its financial affect.
Gov. Tony Evers introduced Tuesday that he has secured federal cash to finish the largest land conservation purchase in Wisconsin historical past, going round Republicans within the Legislature who had blocked the undertaking.
The state Department of Natural Resources deliberate final yr to spend about $4 million from the state’s Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program to assist finance the purchase of the practically 70,000 acre property east of Rhinelander in northern Wisconsin often called the Pelican River Forest. The U.S. Forestry Service had agreed to pay the remaining 75% of the easement.
Republicans on the Legislature’s finances committee in April blocked spending stewardship {dollars} on the undertaking. Sen. Mary Felzkowski, one of many lawmakers who objected to the undertaking, mentioned she was fearful in regards to the impact eradicating that a lot land from future potential improvement would have on northern Wisconsin’s economic system. The GOP has lengthy criticized the stewardship program as a result of it removes blocks of personal land from native tax rolls and prevents improvement.
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Evers introduced Tuesday in his State of the State handle that the U.S. Forestry Service’s Forest Legacy Program would fund the state’s share of the easement, thereby getting across the Legislature’s finances committee.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers offers his annual State of the State handle on Jan. 23, 2024, in Madison, Wis. Evers introduced Tuesday that he has secured federal cash to finish the largest land conservation purchase in Wisconsin historical past. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
The rejection of that undertaking was cited by Evers in his lawsuit filed with the Wisconsin Supreme Court in October arguing that the Legislature is obstructing primary authorities features.
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The Conservation Fund, a Virginia-based nationwide land conservation group, owns the land. The easement ensures the land can be left in an undeveloped state with public entry for searching, fishing, trapping and motorized recreation akin to snowmobiles and four-wheelers.
Clint Miller, central Midwest regional director for The Conservation Fund, known as it a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to protect nearly 70,000 acres of forestland.”
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