The Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund, a collaborative effort between the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin (NRF), recently reached a new high-water mark. In a press release, the department and the foundation announced that the fund had achieved a milestone of $3 million, coinciding with National Public Lands Day. This fund is an initiative with a hefty ambition: to protect and rejuvenate the habitats for Wisconsin's flora and fauna, ensuring the beauty of the state's public lands for future generations.
Breaking down the numbers, $1 million in the endowment should kick back about $50,000 every year for land care, based on the current 5% distribution model. Since its first round of funding in 2017, the Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund has supported various conservation projects. For instance, the past year saw projects in several counties, with work in Vilas County being utilized for the improvement of habitats crucial for both game species and those designated as of Greatest Conservation Need. The WDNR emphasized that the fund is a pivotal element in the state's strategy to ensure ongoing stewardship of its cherished wild spaces.
One intriguing fact about the Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund, as noted in a statement obtained by the Wisconsin DNR, is that a modest 5% of license purchasers opt to donate, with the average donation summing up to $4.27. Contributions to the fund predominantly come from those purchasing hunting and fishing licenses, accounting for 88% of the total donations. This fund is not solely a governmental effort but a public-private partnership, linking the DNR with the NRF, a conservation nonprofit. The endowment was established by an act of the Wisconsin State Legislature in 2013 and now serves as a perennial source of funding directed towards the upkeep of Wisconsin's public lands.
"This milestone is exciting, but the truth is that it isn't enough when you consider all the challenges nature faces in Wisconsin," David Clutter, NRF's executive director, voiced in the release. He made a call to action, suggesting that if each person renewing their hunting or fishing licenses donated just $2, then the fund could potentially receive $3 million annually. Engaging the public in this campaign presents an opportunity to make significant progress in conserving Wisconsin's natural landscape, according to the WDNR.
