MADISON, WI – For over 30 years, the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program has played a vital role in promoting Wisconsin’s growing tourism economy and outdoor recreation opportunities, as well as conserving important habitat and ecosystems. Senator Habush Sinykin (D-Whitefish Bay) has been working tirelessly for months to educate constituents and others around the state on the need to support continued state funding for Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program. Today, Representative Tony Kurtz (R-Wonewoc) and Senator Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point) introduced a bill to reauthorize the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program, including modifications and creating a major land acquisition program.
Senator Habush Sinykin released the following statement:
“For months, I have been calling attention to the importance of ongoing stewardship funding. From a well-attended Community Conversation in Port Washington, to engaging with legislators on the Joint Finance Committee and across the aisle, to speaking with advocacy groups across the state–I’ve worked hard to build support for this program’s continuity from Republicans and Democrats alike. I am committed to ensuring our state is taking care of Wisconsin’s Knowles-Nelson stewardship lands now and into the future.
“The Governor’s budget proposal made the necessary investments to support this program and re-authorized it for ten years, ensuring that the organizations and partners across the state had time to strategically plan for land management and stewardship projects. I am reviewing the proposal introduced by my Republican colleagues. I appreciate their work and hope they will be open to feedback and potential changes to ensure that this stewardship program’s bipartisan success story does not end due to partisan politics.
“I want to extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who took the time to contact their state legislators to advocate on behalf of the continuation of this stewardship program. Without your efforts, this widely popular program would have faced strong headwinds—or elimination. This is what democracy looks like.”
