State budget provides more money for state parks
Funding meant to protect remaining natural lands
By Lindsay Fiori
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In the recently approved state budget, government officials set aside $86 million per year for the purchase and upkeep of natural lands and parks.
The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund received an increase to $86 million, up from $60 million in previous years. The increase will take effect in 2010 and last until 2020 with funds utilized by the Department of Natural Resources, local governments and non-profit organizations to purchase new lands and care for already owned lands and facilities, said Casey Eggleston, spokesman for The Nature Conservancy of Wisconsin.
"We're reaching a critical time with land prices going up so quickly," Eggleston said. "We have a 10 year window to protect those lands. If we don't do it within that window, those lands will be parceled off and developed. If we do protect them, they will be there forever for everyone to enjoy."
According to Erin Celello, spokeswoman for the DNR, 94 percent of private industrial forest lands changed hands between 1997 and 2002.
"That's something that's going to be happening more," she said. "If we're not poised as a state to protect that land, it runs the risk of being subdivided, developed and lost forever. This increase allows us to keep pace with rising land prices."
Since its inception 17 years ago, the Stewardship Fund has protected nearly half a million acres, Celello said.
Although the fund received additional money, The Nature Conservancy originally asked for the fund to be increased to $105 million per year.
"It was a really tight fiscal budget with a lot of priority areas that needed spending," said Eggleston. "We're very excited with the increase they ended up with."
Published: 11/15/07 Section: News
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