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Lands and Waters

Protecting Wisconsin’s most ecologically important landscapes

Wisconsin’s public lands protect many ecologically significant and rare landscapes. State Forests provide habitat for large wildlife such as elk, wolves, and bears, while State Natural Areas protect the last remaining examples of globally-imperiled ecological communities, such as savannas, wetlands, and barrens.

Wisconsin’s public lands and waters are also part of our state’s natural heritage, and provide unparalleled opportunities for people to connect with nature. Whether you love hiking, paddling, fishing, hunting, birding, camping, biking, or simply find comfort in the beauty and tranquility of the outdoors, Wisconsin’s public lands and waters are here for all of us to enjoy.

 

Our public lands are under threat

Invasive species, climate change, and significant cuts to state funding for natural resource management threaten to permanently alter our landscapes and diminish habitat for rare and threatened wildlife species. The Natural Resources Foundation works to address Wisconsin’s most important conservation needs, by bridging support from thousands of people across Wisconsin to our conservation partners and projects across our state.

Acres restored

grants for lands and waters

in funding for lands and waters

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Our strategy for conserving lands and waters

Partnerships

We support and partner with a wide range of conservation organizations who are already doing important research and on-the-ground work. Their knowledge and experience guides our strategy and by strengthening their efforts, we all reach our goals of conserving Wisconsin’s natural resources.

Big Picture

We believe in a landscape-level approach. Within Wisconsin’s beautiful scenery lies critical habitats in need of maintenance and protection. Priority needs are identified in concert with the people and communities who share our commitment. By collaborating and supporting bold initiatives, we create efficiencies, leverage resources, and create an impact that sustains the entire ecosystem long-term.

Public Trust

Every conservation project we fund benefits lands that are open to the public. From beloved places like Devil’s Lake State Park and the Lower Chippewa River Basin to little-known gems nestled in far flung corners of the state, we are dedicated to caring for our shared natural heritage.

Sustainability

Lasting and meaningful improvements don’t happen quickly, which is why we focus on finding ways to provide permanent, sustainable funding for land and water conservation efforts. Through smart financial investments like endowment funds we are ensuring Wisconsin’s future.

Landscape-scale conservation

Wildlife knows no borders. They only see habitat. Landscape-scale conservation protects biodiversity across big, varied landscapes rather than focusing only on individual species or small sites in isolation. This highly collaborative strategy acknowledges the interconnectedness of ecosystems and considers wildlife, plants, ecological processes, and human communities together.

NRF is bringing this strategy to Wisconsin in a big way. We’re piloting collaborative landscape-scale projects in our state’s priority regions—the most biodiverse places, and the ones at highest risk of being lost.

Impact in Action

Prescribed Fire for Landowners

Prescribed Fire for Landowners

Last spring, the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council facilitated a “Prescribed Fire Training for Wisconsin Landowners” with support from NRF’s C.D. Besadny Fund.

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Banner photo by Laura Anderson

Box photos by Sharon Fandel, Joshua Mayer, courtesy of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and DZ Johnson