WI-DNR: Natural Heritage Conservation

Last year Rare Plant Monitoring Program volunteers rediscovered the state threatened white lady’s slipper orchid at a site where it had not been seen in over 45 years. Help us make more amazing discoveries this year by participating in the Rare Plant Monitoring Program.

Required trainings are scheduled for March and April. Sign up for one of our sessions in Waunakee, Stevens Point, Menomonie or Sheboygan. Plant identification will not be taught so some skill is required.

Volunteers’ observations and reports on the plants they see are critical to native plant conservation in Wisconsin. They alert land managers to pressing threats and inform on-the-ground management necessary to maintain these known populations. 

Learn how to sign up here.

Author Bruce Grierson published an article called “The Kid in You” in Psychology Today, that sparked an interest with us at WWOA.  Grierson poses the question, “What if what we loved doing between ages 9 and 11, is what most of us ought to be doing for our actual jobs as adults?” Could you dig deep and recall what you were doing at age 10? Things that you were passionate about at that age? Grierson goes on to say that, “at age 10, kids graduate from being biologist, searching for a theory of life, to philosophers.”

Could this be a vital key to engaging some of our younger generation woodland owners?

To view the full article of “The Kid in You” click here.

Grierson also published a second part, “The Kid in You Part 2,” which can be found here.

MADISON – State plant health officials are advising consumers who bought rhododendrons or azaleas this spring and summer to be on the lookout for signs of a disease that could spread to oaks and kill them. [Read more…]

In this article we will discuss about the twelve methods used for controlling stream bank erosion. The methods are: 1. Stream Bank Stabilization—Gabion Method 2. Vegetated Geo-Grid Method 3. Iowa Vanes 4. Vegetative Riprap 5. Stone Riprap 6. Pilings with Wire or Geotextile Fencings 7. Dormant Post Plantings 8. Coconut Fiber Rolls Method 9. Branch Packing Method 10. Live Fascine Method and Few Others. (Read more…)

WWOA life member and 2006 WWOA Next Generation Award winner, Nancy Livingston, wraps up 2 decades of sharing her land with Adams-Friendship 4^thgraders. Do you know of a WWOA member who is helping the next generation learn about caring for private woodlands?  It’s not too late to nominate them for WWOA’s Next Generation Award 

Click “Read More” to see the full article on the Tree Planting Event.

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The Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative is a voluntary partnership of 175+ state, federal, and non-government organizations that aims to deliver the full spectrum of bird conservation from outreach and education to research and monitoring. Dating back to 2002, WBCI has a long list of accomplishments including among others the Great Wisconsin Birding & Nature Trail, Important Bird Areas, and Bird City Wisconsin. In 2018, the partnership completed a five-year strategic plan and now seeks a new logo to brand its work to conserve birds into the future.

Submission guidelines are as a PDF here. Deadline for submission is August 15, 2019. The winning design will be awarded a $500 cash prize. 

USDA Biological Control Facility Seeks Ash Trees for Parasitoid Production. Landowners Support Program to Combat the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Countless landowners have donated their ash trees to support the parasitoid production facility in Brighton Michigan, what about you? (Ash log harvesting document.)

The WI DNR has contacted WWOA to alert us of timber thefts of young aspen and paper birch in the following areas:

Southern Oneida Co.

Northeastern Lincoln Co.

Northern Langlade Co.

Forest Co.

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