Join us for Conservation On Tap this Thursday, 5:00pm at Rockhound Brewing!

We’ll be chatting about the new conservation organization, Green Fire. If you’re potentially interested in joining, WSCB will supply and submit Green Fire Membership Forms at Conservation On Tap (membership ranges from $25 for students to $40 for professionals).

This month featuring: Upper Sugar River Watershed Association

 

Coming up! Join on Facebook.

“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” John Muir

Note there is no September Conservation On Tap – join us for happy hour in the park instead!

BYOB and food for the grill. Please avoid bringing glass bottles.

Join us at Genna’s Lounge on 105 W Main St for conservation happy hour! Conservation On Tap is a chance to network with other conservation practitioners, learn about conservation in WI, and get tapped into conservation opportunities!

NOTE the time change from regular Conservation On Tap events! We hope that more folks will be able to join us at the slightly later time.

Schedule:
8:30am – meet up for carpool from Madison
9:30am-11:30am – Tour of the International Crane Foundation
11:30am-12:00pm – lunch at the International Crane Foundation
12:00pm-12:30 – Drive to Aldo Leopold Foundation
12:30pm-2:00pm – Tour of Aldo Leopold Foundation Shack and Farm
2:00-3:00 – return to Madison

Carpool:
If you would like to carpool, please email wisconbio@gmail.com by Monday, July 10th.

TICKETS

Join us for Conservation on Tap Thursday, June 14th!

Conservation On Tap is coming up Thursday! Join us for a conservation happy hour.

Conservation on Tap is hosted every third Thursday of the month. Are you interested in Wisconsin conservation efforts? Curious about how to make a environmental difference? Conservation On Tap is for you! Come to socialize about Wisconsin conservation over a Wisconsin beer!

Conservation On Tap is an opportunity for conservation enthusiasts to connect across agencies and fields, for young professionals to network and get tapped into greater conservation efforts, and for non-professional conservation practitioners to get engaged. Come and chat, hope to see you there! #ConservationBuzz

Join on Facebook 

Oppose the Proposed Elimination of the Forestry Mill Tax

Wisconsin has one of the most diverse collections of forest types in the country if not the world. In our state the southern and eastern deciduous forests converge with northern conifer to form natural communities that are unique to our state and the upper Midwest. In Wisconsin, we have over 16 million acres of forests, which is 46% of the land. Meaning if you could walk every inch of our beautiful state, half of your steps would be in the shade.

However, this year Wisconsin forests are facing an enormous threat and it’s not a borer, wilt, or algid; in fact, it is something much more devastating. The Governor’s current budget proposal removes the forestry mill tax and eliminates nearly all state mandated funding for forestry management. This essential tax is leveed equally upon all landowners to support sustainable forestry throughout the state. It funds nearly every state sponsored forestry program in some way and is our main line of defense against the overuse of our excellent timber resource. In fact, the tax was put in place in 1927 after unchecked logging removed every single marketable tree from the state. Think about that… every single tree.

This is not a matter of politics. Wisconsin residents and visitors all directly rely on the forest in some way; whether it is for food, water, lumber, recreation, tourism, the list goes on. However, it is also not about just about how we use these forests, because whether it is an oak in the Driftless Area, a pine the Central Sands, or maple in the Northwoods, these trees are part of our identity. And this is the only state tax that assures our forest identity will remain intact for future generations.

Eliminating the mill tax is the modern day equivalent of allowing the lumber barons to clearcut our forests. This is especially true with recent developments of federal tariffs imposed on trade of softwood with Canada. Local forest markets will undoubtedly increase as Wisconsin softwood timber market is historically low despite being the top paper producing state. This is a good thing for many communities, but if left unchecked can also result in the conversion of our mature forests to pure production bases systems and the loss of many natural services. History has shown we cannot solely rely on the industry to police its self (…every single tree).

Fortunately we can make a difference. The Governor only proposes the budget, it us up to our Legislators to pass it. In April the Joint Finance Committee received public input on the mill tax and numerous state organizations spoke out against its elimination. These groups ranged from the Forest Stewards Guild (FSG Mill Tax Letter) to the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council (WPFC Mill Tax Letter).

Now is the time to for you to act. Call your local representatives today and let them know your concern about elimination of the forestry mill tax. This tax has been on the books for nearly 100 years and made Wisconsin’s private forest resource the strongest in the country. So it’s elimination as a budget item is already a contentious topic among lawmakers.  If enough senators and representatives hear from concerned citizens about this topic, it would be an easy item to change on the Capitol floor in June. So please contact your representatives today and help save our forests!

We have an immediate opening on our board of directors for the role of Secretary.  The Secretary provides a critical communications role in our mission to foster collaborative relationships and advance the science and practice of conservation in Wisconsin. This board member takes the lead writing and posting content for WSCB social media platforms, updating our website, and writing and compiling content for our monthly member newsletter.

To apply, send a letter of interest to wisconbio@gmail.com by Friday, March 24th. We welcome questions about the position at the above email and look forward to connecting with you.

WSCB board members serve for a one-year term, and these are volunteer positions.  Board members must be SCB Global members. To read more about specific roles and responsibilities, please see here https://wisconbio.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/wscb-board-of-directors-roles-and-responsibilities1.pdf