Approval of Largest Forest Conservation Effort in State History

Governor Tony Evers, during his 2024 State of the State address, announced the approval of an additional conservation easement covering 54,898 acres of the Pelican River Forest to complete one of the largest conservation projects in Wisconsin history. Altogether, over 67,000 acres of the Pelican River Forest will be protected, ensuring the forest will remain open to the public in perpetuity for outdoor recreation activities such as fishing, hunting, skiing, trapping, and hiking. The conservation easement will be funded by a grant from the U.S. Forestry Service Forest Legacy Program.

Conserving the Pelican River Forest also makes significant progress towards Gov. Evers’ Trillion Trees Pledge, which includes conserving 125,000 acres of forestland by 2030. According to the DNR, the Pelican River Forest conservation easements will achieve 55 percent of the governor’s goal. In addition, the Pelican River Forest conservation easement will protect 58 miles of rivers and streams and 22,334 acres of wetlands; store approximately 19 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, and sequester 125,000 MTCO2e annually over the first five years of management; ensure sustainable management of a working forest; and protect the headwaters of the Wolf River, which supplies clean drinking water to over 40,000 people who live downstream.

Approval of Largest Forest Conservation Effort in State History

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