A retired DNR real estate and land protection employee says preserving Wisconsin's open spaces should remain as a key goal for all citizens.
Dick Steffes spent 39 years with the DNR. He successfully used the state Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund and appreciated the federal Land And Water Conservation monies to buy large tracts of land for public use, be it walking, forest products or hunting. He was key in the purchase of The Great Addition in 1999, where the state added tens of thousands of acres for public use.
He says regardless of the venture, you need money and to preserve Wisconsin's legacy in conservation, and the state Stewardship Fund bonding is critical. The money is paid back over 20 years..
"....that's an important tool because there really isn't much else. It's an investment. We invest in our highways, our education, and land conservation, that's Stewardship, that helps our tourism and forestry industry in terms of employment and economic return...."
Steffes says he concerned that many of the corporate woods landowners have sold off the larger tracts to smaller companies who see it as profitable to sell off, and thus fragment, the critical contiguous woodlands. He says other private owners also are involved...
"....the owners aren't necessarily able to afford a private, professional forester to help manage their land. Their goals may be bird watching or hunting or a cabin in the woods, nothing wrong with all those things, but what happens is it changes the way the land is managed...."
Steffes says that makes less land available for professionally managed forests.
The federal Land and Water Conservation Fund was signed into law on September 3, 1964. Congress is set to begin debate this year on the program's renewal. He says both the state Stewardship Fund and the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund are critical to helping preserve the Northwoods. Links are available here.Another link is here.
