Let’s reflect on the jarring contrast in the arena of conservation. First off, let’s give a big shout-out to Linda Mutschler who recently retired after 13 years of leadership at the Cedar Lakes Conservation Foundation (CLCF).
Linda Mutschler
Linda was the second visionary leader of the trust. Its founder was the late Goeff Maclay, a pioneer for land trusts across Wisconsin. Maclay laid the foundation for the second land trust in Wisconsin a half century ago (the first was The Ridges in Door County.) More than 40 other communities have followed Maclay’s passionate lead in an almost religious manner.
Mutschler picked up the baton and turned CLCF into a highly professional and effective organization.
- She did an inventory and history of every parcel of precious land in the Cedar Lakes watershed.
- She, her staff and directors got to know the landowners and their families personally. They each have different needs and desires for their properties, often in a family for generations.
- She utilized every available funding source, including easements, and succeeded in raising about $20 million for acquisitions, operations and stewardship of protected lands.
- She launched, in cooperation with the Ziegler Family Foundation and The Bend Theater, a series of educational lectures to deepen the understanding of the importance of conservation.
- CLCF has preserved 3200 acres of precious land in the Cedar Lakes watershed.
- She created a succession leadership team under Sophie Gosetti that will carry the mission forward another generation.
- She created many partnerships, including Restoring Lands, the former Ozaukee Washington County Land Trust, which has protected more than 6000 acres in the two counties.
In contrast to all the positive, conservation accomplishments at local levels across Wisconsin, our state’s political leaders in both parties have put conservation in reverse gear. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Republican leaders Robin Vos and Devin LeMahieu failed to reach a compromise on extending the bi-partisan Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund. It has been a prime source of matching funds for conservation and recreation projects for more than 50 years in a state blessed with exceptional lands and waters.
Polls of Wisconsin citizens always show that at least three quarters of citizens want a high priority placed on conservation. That’s been true even if the question includes whether they are willing to spend tax money on conservation.
Where did we go wrong on the Stewardship Fund in not putting high value on the natural resources that make Wisconsin a very special place to live, to raise families and enjoy life? Clearly, the hyper-partisanship that has infected our political life from the national level on down is our principal weakness.
Let’s step way back. Let’s go 250,000 miles away and take a look at Planet Earth the way the Artemis II astronauts did last week. From far, far away, they had exceptional clarity on the uniqueness of the Earth, the place to call home. They saw the need for human unity that needs to exist for our tiny planet in a cosmos of mostly blackness to survive.
Back here on our part of the capsule Earth, let’s get creative and find permanent sources of funding for conservation in our lovely state.
We could use some of our budget surpluses for an endowment that throws off an annual sum for preservation. We could put a small sales tax on the sale of outdoor recreational equipment. We could put a small extraction fee on every ton of fracking sand. Other ideas?
A statewide task force comprised of leaders and experts on natural resources needs to be to be put together when the next round of legislators and a new governor take office next fall.
How about Linda Mutschler to head it up?
Just as the Artemis crew relied on their tiny space craft, the crew called on all of us to regard our planet as “a lifeboat” needing our tender, loving care.
