Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR)’s Post

Grasslands can benefit habitats, water cleanliness, #carbonStorage, rural economies, and more. Experts such as Randy Jackson, a professor at UW–Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and #grassland ecologist at Grassland 2.0, share the many benefits of grasslands especially for Wisconsin farmers. See "Good for Grasslands" by Molly Meister on page 20 to learn more!

Have you met the Sprague's pipit? A true master of camouflage, this songbird blends seamlessly into the prairie landscape and finds refuge in the picturesque Jackson Pipestone Prairie in Manitoba. Often mistaken for a sparrow, the Sprague’s pipit is a buff and black-streaked, medium-sized bird with white outer tail feathers. This species plays a crucial role in preserving the delicate balance of the prairie ecosystem. At-risk and sensitive to habitat changes, they act as vital indicators of prairie health. Their presence relies on vast expanses of intact native grasslands. Protecting this species dually serves to protect prairie ecosystems. As we celebrate #NationalBirdDay, it's a timely reminder of the importance of safeguarding these grassland habitats. By doing so, we ensure the survival of magnificent species like the Sprague’s pipit, and the ecological health of Manitoba's landscapes. Curious to learn more about the Jackson Pipestone Prairie and Wetlands? Dive into the beauty of this natural haven in our video: https://brnw.ch/21wFQi1 🌿

“When we developed the pocket guide we had three big goals,” said Dillon Fogarty, University of Nebraska-based scientist who led the development of the guide. “First, we wanted to provide a field-based resource for understanding what grassland risk and vulnerability to woody encroachment looks like on the landscape” “Second, we wanted to outline a unified planning process to streamline adoption of new management guidelines.” “And third, we wanted to provide a suite of detailed management options that help managers identify how to reduce their grasslands’ risk and vulnerability to encroachment.” Check out the Reducing Woody Encroachment in Grasslands: A Pocket Guide for Planning and Design, recently published by Working Lands for Wildlife and the Great Plains Grasslands Extension Partnership. This is the comprehensive, science-based tool is already aiding conservation planners working to save America’s grasslands. Learn more at https://buff.ly/3rUahUX

What a wonderful write-up about the Arnold Fen! It was permanently conserved by a conservation easement about two years ago, but privately managed by a wonderful, passionate couple! Learn more about this globally rare ecosystem in the article!

Did you know that Pennsylvania is home to 17 million acres of forest? More than half a million of those acres are in Allegheny National Forest. We are happy to have contributed to the health of vitality of the ANF through our extensive work and partnerships there to improve water quality and conserve land for wildlife and future generations This map, created for Conserve magazine in 2019, shows locations of WPC's forest tree plantings through 2019, including some in the ANF. And it shows the distribution of eight forest types in PA. (Visit the issue for a closer look: https://lnkd.in/gsPE-S-M) How are you celebrating National Forest Week? #FindYourAWEsome #NationalForestWeek #ANF

What is a wilderness really? According to the Wilderness Act of 1964, it is “an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.” Wilderness areas play a crucial role in preserving and enhancing our environment. They serve as vital biodiversity reservoirs, providing habitats for a wide range of plant and animal species. They act as carbon sinks, absorbing and storing vast amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This contributes to mitigating climate change by reducing greenhouse gas concentrations and helping to stabilize global temperatures. Wilderness areas often contain untouched watersheds and natural filtration systems, which supply clean and unpolluted water to downstream communities. These ecosystems serve as a source of freshwater, supporting aquatic life and providing essential resources for human consumption and agriculture. They offer so many benefits and only make up about 5% of the US, with over half of that being in Alaska. It should come as not a huge surprise that when we searched, we found there are no designated wilderness in the State of Maryland. September is National Wilderness Month so this is a great opportunity to learn more about designated wilderness areas in the US and check out the Wilderness Connect website where their mission is “connecting federal employees, scientists, educators, and the public with their wilderness heritage” to find a wilderness near you! #NationalWildernessMonth #climatechange #protectwilderness #waterquality

🌲📢 Take action to shape the future of public lands in Northern California! The Bureau of Land Management has launched a land management planning process for the Northern California region. This comment period is a crucial opportunity to ensure the conservation of old-growth forests, watersheds, and wildlife habitat for future generations. Learn more about the process and take action: https://ow.ly/kiqI50Qaxva

Today we are thrilled to share the Coastal Wetlands Strategic Plan 2024, authored by Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture alongside ourselves and additional academic, nonprofit, NGO, state and federal, community, and Indigenous partners. Our hope is that this plan will generate momentum around a shared path forward to conserve healthy coastal wetlands in the North Pacific Flyway including Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Northern California, for the benefit of birds, other wildlife, and people. The plan describes overarching conservation strategies, 35 very high-priority coastal species and 50 high-priority coastal species in addition to others, and associated population and habitat objectives for tidal wetlands, mudflats, sandspits, eelgrass meadows, freshwater wetlands, freshwater lakes, and bird-friendly working lands and waters. This plan also includes a list of knowledge gaps and acknowledges that additional and adaptive work is needed to build momentum, achieve objectives, and ensure that the best available information is guiding actions and investments. READ THE FULL PLAN: https://lnkd.in/g6uehBSs

In Minnesota, an impressive collaboration of land managers has been enhancing moose habitat for a decade, highlighting the power of unity. Funded by the Outdoor Heritage Fund and other councils, projects aim to replicate natural disturbances like wildfires to create the young forests moose love. Key players include the Forest Service, Minnesota DNR, local counties, and Native American Tribes. Timber harvests, prescribed fires, and other techniques play vital roles in replicating these ideal conditions. For the majestic moose and the forests they call home, collaboration is truly the key to conservation. 🌍🤝 https://lnkd.in/gBxnsfbt