A meeting to discuss potential solutions to Wisconsin’s conservation funding woes will be held Aug. 24 in Madison, according to organizers.
The “Summit on the Future of Wisconsin Conservation Funding” is being planned by the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance, Wisconsin’s Green Fire, Wisconsin Trout Unlimited and Wisconsin Wildlife Federation.
In their announcement of the event, the groups said they expected a “broad cross-section of Wisconsin’s outdoor community” to attend.
The summit is free and open to all organizations and businesses, said Cody Kamrowski, WWF executive director.
Funding to cover any costs is being provided by an anonymous donor, Kamrowski said.
“If you care about Wisconsin’s outdoors and the future of our natural resources, you belong in this conversation,” the organizers said in a July 30 email inviting participants. “Healthy natural resources benefit us all, and lasting progress depends on bringing diverse voices together to identify shared priorities and help shape conservation funding priorities ahead of the next legislative session. This summit is designed to be an open, respectful conversation focused on finding common ground and exploring opportunities to strengthen long-term investment in Wisconsin’s natural resources.”
The summit will attempt to galvanize support for a sustainable solution or solutions to the Department of Natural Resources’ funding issues.
The DNR’s Fish and Wildlife Account, which funds most of the agency’s programs on fishing, hunting, law enforcement and rare, threatened and endangered species, has had a structural deficit for many years.
Despite cuts in programs and staff, the DNR estimated the structural deficit at $16.5 million in Fiscal Year 2026.
The Legislature has provided short-term fixes with transfers of funds from the Forestry Account but has failed to increase the fees on most resident fishing and hunting licenses since 2005, an unprecedented period of time, according to the DNR.
When combined with increases in costs of equipment and supplies, including about a 60% hike due to inflation over the last two decades, the DNR has had to reduce services and close some facilities.
Cuts to walleye and muskellunge stocking are among the recent results of the DNR’s funding shortfall.
The public showed strong support for several funding ideas at the 2026 Department of Natural Resources Spring Hearings and Wisconsin Conservation Congress County Meetings. Commonly known as the “spring hearings,” the meetings were held in each Wisconsin county April 13 and online input was accepted April 13-15.
In response to a question about the “Missouri model,” or a statewide sales tax of 0.125% to fund general conservation programs, the result among Wisconsin residents was 4,045 yes, 1,076 no, or 79% support.
On a question about increasing hunting, fishing, and trapping license fees by 25% to support wildlife management, fisheries management, and conservation law enforcement activities, the response was 3,706 to 1,357, or 73% approval.
But implementing any change in DNR funding requires action by the Legislature.
Kamrowski said the Aug. 24 summit would be led by a facilitator. The agenda will include: developing a collaborative value statement; overview of conservation funding; input and discussion by participants; shared goal planning; and a discussion of “collaborative policy.”
The organizers are attempting to cast a wide net for participation.
“If your organization or business has an interest in Wisconsin’s outdoors, we encourage you to participate and help shape the conversation,” the organizers wrote in their July 30 email. “Please feel free to share this invitation with other organizations, businesses, agencies, outdoor recreation groups, and partners who share this interest.”
The organizers are asking participants to RSVP by Aug. 14 through this link: https://forms.gle/GHZwciW6HFnVZ6Bf6
Kamrowski said a virtual option was being explored but he highly encouraged in-person attendance at the summit.
To learn more, contact Kamrowski at cody@wiwf.org or Terri Roehrig, WWF president, at terri.r@wiwf.org.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Summit on Wisconsin conservation funding to be held Aug. 24 in Madison
Reporting by Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
