Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program Faces Expiration

Wisconsins Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, a vital conservation initiative, faces expiration in June due to lawmakers inaction. This program, established in 1989, has protected over 750,000 acres for public lands, parks, trails, and forests. However, the state Senate has skipped bills to renew it, and a Supreme Court ruling has blocked attempts to withhold already approved funds. Conservation leaders express concerns about the programs future, as nonprofits may rely more on donors and miss opportunities to buy land from retiring baby boomer owners. Talks are ongoing between Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Democratic Governor Tony Evers on a funding package that could include the program. The programs fate may now rest on November elections or these final negotiations, as a recent poll shows 93% of voters support public funding for conservation. Support the show: Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN: [email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting. Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates: https://sources.thednn.ai/761eddaff430b2c9