(Feb 19, 2025) -- “We applaud Governor Evers for prioritizing conservation in his 2025-27 state budget proposal, which included a major investment of $100 million annually, over ten years, for the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, including a new program to create habitat on public lands. 

Grassland species across North America have declined more than 50 percent since 1966, and these losses are being felt across Wisconsin. Thirty years ago, Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance (formerly Madison Audubon Society) received the first ever non-profit Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Grant to acquire and restore habitat at Goose Pond Sanctuary, helping vulnerable species like the Eastern Meadowlark, an icon of Wisconsin’s grasslands.  

Since 1989, more than 1,500 Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program grants have benefited each of Wisconsin’s 72 counties, funding the protection and conservation of vital wildlife habitat, as well as maintenance and upkeep of waterways, parks, forests and trails. Long-term funding for the Program is needed to ensure the continued protection of important bird habitat.  

Conservation in Wisconsin has a long bi-partisan tradition, and the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program—named after two legislators from each major party—is a prime example. Audubon looks forward to working with the Governor and the Wisconsin Legislature to ensure that the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program  can continue to benefit wildlife and communities across Wisconsin.”  

### 

About Audubon Great Lakes 
Audubon Great Lakes is a regional office of Audubon, learn more at gl.audubon.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.    
The National Audubon Society is a leading nonprofit conservation organization with 120 years of science-based, community-driven impact, dedicated to protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Birds are powerful indicators of our planet’s health, acting as sentinels that warn us of environmental change and inspire action. Audubon works across the Western Hemisphere, driven by the understanding that what is good for birds is good for the planet. Through a collaborative, bipartisan approach across habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, Audubon drives meaningful and lasting conservation outcomes. With 800 staff and over 1.9 million supporters, Audubon is a dynamic and ever-growing force committed to ensuring a better planet for both birds and people for generations to come. Learn more at www.audubon.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety