Policy
WGF analyses and statements on broad policy about science in natural resource management, as well as legislation and actions with wide-ranging policy implications for Wisconsin’s environment.
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’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 >Wisconsin’s Green Fire Guidance for Public Testimony at Joint Finance Committee Spring 2023 Hearings
The Wisconsin Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) has scheduled their spring 2023 public hearings on the state budget. Click here to view the Spring 2023 JFC hearing schedule.
We encourage all conservation-minded citizens to attend a hearing and testify on conservation issues in Wisconsin. The following is guidance for …
Read More >Opinion: Moving Wisconsin Forward with Wolf Management
Wisconsin’s Green Fire Executive Director Fred Clark and Wildlife Work Group co-chair Adrian Wydeven bring a crucial voice of science in this opinion article on the recent 2022 Draft Wolf Management Plan. The piece emphasizes that wolf recovery in Wisconsin is a conservation success story, and despite many differing opinions …
Read More >Wisconsin’s 2023-2025 State Budget: WGF Highlights and Summary
On Wednesday, February 15th, Governor Evers released his 2023-2025 State Budget, the single most important bill introduced every two years at the Capitol. The budget includes important investments in protecting the health and safety of Wisconsin citizens and natural resources and makes crucial changes to ensure democratic decision making in natural resource management and policy …
Read More >WGF Releases Comments on Draft Wisconsin Wolf Management Plan
In November 2022, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) released a Draft Wisconsin Wolf Management Plan. When finalized, the Plan is intended to update Wisconsin’s current Wolf Management Plan which was approved in 1997. The Plan reflects a wide variety of inputs, including recommendations from a Wolf Management Plan Committee the …
Read More >WGF Hosts Imbalance of Power Webinar
On October 19th, Wisconsin’s Green Fire hosted a webinar on our recent Opportunities Now report, Imbalance of Power: How Wisconsin is Failing Citizens in Conserving Natural Resources and Protecting our Environment. The paper addresses the collective effects of state legislative actions, court rulings, and political practices that have undermined democratic processes and profoundly changed …
Read More >Fifty Years of the Clean Water Act Successes in the Wisconsin River Basin
Bob Martini served for 32 years with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as statewide River Protection Coordinator leading efforts to clean up the Wisconsin River Basin. He is a member of the board of directors of Wisconsin’s Green Fire.
Read More >Wisconsin’s Green Fire Releases Opportunities Now Report “Imbalance of Power – How Wisconsin is Failing Citizens in Conserving Natural Resources and Protecting our Environment”
Wisconsin’s Green Fire is releasing the newest in our series of Opportunities Now policy assessments titled, Imbalance of Power – How Wisconsin is Failing Citizens in Conserving Natural Resources and Protecting our Environment.
Read More >The Cost of Clean Water
The following is a reflection written by Bruce Neeb, a Wisconsin’s Green Fire member and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources retiree who served 27 years with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Information/Education (I&E) and Grants and Loans programs. During his time at WDNR in Eau Claire, Bruce oversaw WDNR West Central Region grant, loan, …
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