Protecting land in the Badger state for over 45 years, The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin has set an outstanding example of conservation innovation and leadership. In 2006, The Conservancy played an instrumental role in the protection of the Wild Rivers Legacy Forest project, the largest land conservation transaction in state history. By partnering with the State of Wisconsin, Conservation Forestry LLC and Forest Investment Associates, TNC helped protect over 64,000 acres of hardwood forest in northeastern Wisconsin. The Wild Rivers project, through conservation easements and public ownership, preserves public recreational access to wild rivers, lakes and forest, while ensuring sustainably managed working forests. This historic conservation success would not have been possible without the hard work of the staff and board of The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin.
The Wild Rivers Legacy Forest is certainly a great thing for the state of Wisconsin, and it could never have happened without The Nature Conservancy. One of our great challenges in Wisconsin is to maintain our great northern forest, which covers the whole northern third of our state, and maintain public access for people who hunt, fish and camp. It’s really who we are in this state.”
~Governor Jim Doyle
