State secures 7,090 acres of land for forestry, recreation with $3.5 million easement
MADISON - Wisconsin has assured that 7,090 acres of forests in Douglas County will remain in sustainable forestry and open for public recreation with the approval of a $3,545,000 easement on the property approved by the state Natural Resources Board at its meeting today in Madison. This is the third of three easements in the Brule-St. Croix Legacy Forest Legacy Project that collectively ensure that 73,000 acres of land will be available for forest management and timber production to serve the wood products industry and remain open to the public for nature based outdoor activities.
The easement from the Lyme Timber Company will use funding from the Knowles Nelson Stewardship Program. Much of the easement area is classified as pine barrens, a unique community that supports a high number of species, including sharp-tailed grouse, the Kirtland's warbler, and many species found on the state list of Species of Greatest Conservation Need.
Approximately 1,924 acres of the easement property are also located within the Brule River State Forest acquisition boundary. This represents about 6.5 percent of the total remaining acquisition boundary within the state forest.
Lyme Timber Company, or any future owner, will remain responsible for land management within the terms of the easement.
"This easement is important for the state to ensure this large track of wild forest land will remain in sustainable forest production and avoid forest fragmentation that could take place without this easement," said Doug Haag, real estate director for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
In March 2016, the Brule-St. Croix Legacy Forest Phase II was the recipient of 2016 Wings Across the Americas Conservation Habitat Conservation Partnership Award. This award acknowledges the importance of conserving the Brule-St. Croix Legacy Forest in contributing to the pine barrens community. The Wings Across the Americas Award honors the Department of Natural Resources, The Conservation Fund and the Forest Services for their role in this conservation initiative.
More information about the Forest Legacy Program is available by searching the DNR website, dnr.wi.gov, for keywords "forest legacy."
DNR Office of Communications. DNR Spokesperson: James Dick, 608-267-2773