Public Lands & Forestry
Public lands and forest land management, funding, habitat, and planning for the future. WGF’s analyses and educational materials are developed by the Public Lands and Forestry Work Group.
News Release: WGF Supports Audit Findings that Confirm the WDNR Properly Managed Fish and Wildlife Account Funds
White tailed deer doe and fawns in Black River Falls WI, photo via Snapshot Wisconsin (Source: https://wi-dnr.widencollective.com/portals/zssbwavl/SnapshotWisconsinPhotoLibrary)
Wisconsin’s Green Fire Supports Audit Findings that Confirm the WDNR Properly Managed Fish and Wildlife Account Funds
Correction (12:42pm CT, Sep. 9, 2025): The $30 million one-time transfer from the Forestry Account to the Fish and …
Read More >A New Chapter for the U.S. Forest Service? Less Productive, Less Prepared, and Flying Blind
A New Chapter for the U.S. Forest Service? Less Productive, Less Prepared, and Flying Blind
By Fred Clark and Paul Strong, WGF Members, Edited by Carolyn Pralle, WGF Communications & Outreach Coordinator
Editor’s Note:
This essay is adapted from an earlier version first published June 24, 2025 on This Land. Written by Fred Clark and Paul …
Read More >Metallic mining in Bend deposit: WGF joins partners in calling for Environmental Assessment
Image from our comment letter: Figure 7: Map of Existing Forest Trail/Roads and Drill Sites.
WGF cosigns formal comments on proposed mining in Bend deposit
Click here to read the PDF of the joint letter by ELPC, Wisconsin’s Green Fire, River Alliance, and Sierra Club – Wisconsin …
Read More >Company explores for copper and gold in national forest in northern Wisconsin
Kidrick Swamp, Wisconsin State Natural Area #464, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Taylor County, photo from Joshua Mayer via Flickr. This SNA is located in an area of the national forest northwest from the Bend deposit and drilling sites, and illustrates some of the forest and wetlands in the area.
Company explores for copper and gold …
Read More >Conservation History Ignored to Weaken the Endangered Species Act – by Dr. Stanley Temple
Male Kirtland’s warbler from Adams County, Wisconsin. The Kirtland’s warbler nests in jack pine stands in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ontario, Canada. Due to successful habitat protection and management, the species was delisted from the Endangered Species Act in 2019. Image courtesy of Joel Trick/USFWS via Flickr.
Conservation History Ignored to Weaken the Endangered …
Read More >Wisconsin Forests at Risk Webinar
Wisconsin Forests at Risk Webinar, January 15, 2025. View on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g25VMh__kH8. Take the feedback survey at https://s.zoom.us/m/bPFdfXu57
Wisconsin Forests at Risk Webinar (Recorded Jan. 15, 2025)
On, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 12:00-1:00pm CT, we held our Wisconsin Forests at Risk Webinar. During the webinar, we focused on …
Read More >Opportunities Now 2024: Wisconsin Forests at Risk
Wisconsin Forests at Risk: Engaging Wisconsinites in Another Century of Forest Conservation
We are proud to announce a new paper in our Opportunities Now series.
Left to right: Upson Lake Fall Forest. Photo Credit: Colleen Matula. Log deck and forwarder in Stockbridge-Munsee Tribal Forest. Photo Credit: Paul Koll. Thompson Family Forest. Photo …
Read More >Making an impact – Tom Jerow and Gov. Evers
Conservation succeeds through nonpartisan teamwork!
by Meleesa Johnson, WGF Executive Director
Pelican River Forest WI, photo copyright Jay Brittain, courtesy of Gathering Waters
When Tom Jerow answered his phone last week, I bet he wasn’t expecting a call from Governor Tony Evers! As the two talked, Gov. Evers thanked Tom for helping to conserve the Pelican …
Read More >WGF Opposes SB 999 – Changes to Managed Forest Law
Wisconsin’s Green Fire submitted a letter of testimony opposing SB 999, a Wisconsin Senate bill that would change Managed Forest Law (MFL) to require enrollees in MFL open enrollment to allow motorized access on all roads.
WGF Letter of Testimony – SB 999 | February 14, 2024
According to the Wisconsin …
Read More >WGF Celebrates the Conservation of the Pelican River Forest
Pelican River Forest WI, photo copyright Jay Brittain, courtesy of Gathering Waters
After years of conservation efforts, over 67,000 acres of the Pelican River Forest in Oneida, Forest and Langlade counties are now protected forever under conservation easements. Leaders and volunteers from Wisconsin’s Green Fire (WGF) collaborated with partners …
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