Posts by WI Green Fire
2023-2025 State Budget Highlights – Natural Resources
by Paul Heinen, WGF Policy Director
Governor Tony Evers signed the 2023-2025 State Budget on Wednesday July 5, 2023. Below are the highlights from the Governor’s point of view taken from his budget message. Following these three sections is an “Other’ section with other items that you should know about. Overall, the DNR budget was increased …
Read More >US Supreme Court Decision Reduces Protections for Wetlands
By Michael Cain, Chair of the WGF Public Trust and Wetlands Work Group
The US Supreme Court recently rendered a decision which reduced the scope of protections for wetlands and small ephemeral waterways under the Clean Water Act. In the case, Sackett v. EPA, a 5-4 majority of …
Read More >Celebrate Pride Month – June 2023
By Carolyn Pralle, WGF Communications Coordinator
Happy Pride Month! Respecting, honoring, and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community is a core part of who we are at Wisconsin’s Green Fire (WGF). As a nonpartisan and independent member-supported organization, we’re powered by the diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and interests of our conservation community. We’re proud of the diverse identities among …
Read More >Guest blog: Is Nature and the Outdoors for Everyone?
By Nancy Franz, WGF Science Council member and advisor for WGF’s Aspiring Conservation Professionals Work Group.
I take Wisconsin’s Green Fire’s mission seriously: “Wisconsin citizens enjoy the benefits of clean water, clean air, and healthy ecosystems achieved through scientific and thoughtful management of natural resources.” However, I sometimes wonder if all people feel comfortable enjoying Wisconsin’s …
Read More >Wisconsin’s Green Fire and Partners Equip Local Leaders to Address PFAS in Wisconsin Communities
When Wausau Mayor Katie Rosenberg had to deal with the crisis of responding to PFAS contamination detected throughout Wausau’s drinking water supply in 2022, she was fortunate to be able to turn to her family friend and mentor John Robinson. John is a former Wausau Mayor and a former Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) …
Read More >Wisconsin Tribes: Leading the way in protecting and restoring wetlands and watersheds
May is American Wetlands Month, and in celebration the Wisconsin Wetlands Association and partners have collaborated with Wisconsin Tribal communities to produce videos highlighting the work Tribes have done to protect wetlands in Wisconsin.
Tribes in Wisconsin are doing vital work to protect and restore wetlands and watersheds. The Wisconsin Tribal Conservation Advisory …
Read More >Profile in Conservation
In 2022, WGF launched the Conservation Pathways Scholarship Program to engage and support young people from all backgrounds and abilities in conservation and environmental careers. The program focuses on inclusion and creating equitable learning environments to allow all students, particularly those who have been historically excluded or under-represented in conservation and environmental fields, to feel that they belong and can succeed in these fields. These profiles feature two of our Conservation Pathways scholars, and their paths into the conservation field.
Read More >Wisconsin’s Green Fire Members Reflect on Earth Day 2023
In celebration of Earth Day 2023, we asked some of our members their favorite memories of Earth Day, and what Earth Day means to them as conservation professionals. Below is a collection of photos, memories, stories, and inspirational words from our members – ranging from stories about the first Earth Day in 1970, to photos …
Read More >Wisconsin’s Green Fire supports two new bills to reduce agricultural pollution
Wisconsin’s Green Fire registered in support of Senate Bill 58 and Senate Bill 59 at a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on March 15th.
Both bills were originally part of the much larger Speaker’s Task Force package of 13 bills that failed to pass the Senate two years ago. We hope …
Read More >Guest blog: Wisconsin agriculture stressed by climate change
The Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Initiatives (WICCI) is a nationally recognized collaboration of scientists and stakeholders working together to help foster solutions to climate change in Wisconsin. WICCI formed as a partnership between UW–Madison’s Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in 2007. Wisconsin’s Green Fire …
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