FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
March 5, 1997

Environmentalists and Conservationists Craft Common State-Wide Agenda 

For more information:

Mitch Bent, Trout Unlimited  Will Fantle, Northern Thunder  Jan Conley, Lake Superior Greens  Rebecca Katers, Clean Water Action Council   Keith Reopelle, WI's Environmental Decade   Rick Young, Pheasants Forever

(715) 524-5886 (715) 834-9276  (715) 392-5782 (414) 468-4243 (608) 251-7020 (608) 835-8914

Fishing, hunting and environmental groups met in Stevens Point on Saturday, March 1st to determine a state-wide agenda. Under the umbrella of the Wisconsin Stewardship Network, organizations and individuals from Kenosha to Superior met to address the serious environmental losses over the last two years and how to effectively build bridges between the environmental and conservation communities.

Representatives from over 50 organizations attended the meeting at the UW-Stevens Point campus. By the end of the day, meeting participants had identified three priority issues:

1. Restrictions on Metallic Sulfide Mining  
2. Careful Land-use Management 
3. Restoration of the Public Intervenor Office and DNR Secretary  

Mining was a priority to nearly all participants at the meeting. "The proposed Exxon Mine near Crandon represents an economic and environmental boondoggle for our state. It is clear that citizens across Wisconsin are firmly opposed to the mine--now it's time for us to convince our lawmakers that sulfide mining is not in anyone's interest," said Rebecca Katers of the Clean Water Action Council, referring to the upcoming Mining Moratorium Bill. Network participants urged swift passage of the bill.

Network participants were also concerned about natural resource policy decision-making. "Wisconsin used to be a state known for its strong protection of natural resources--but key pieces of that foundation are now gone," said Will Fantle of Northern Thunder in Eau Claire, referring to the gutting of the Public Intervenor's office and the changing of the DNR Secretary to a governor-appointed post. Wisconsin Stewardship Network participants urged passage of Senate Bill 8 and Assembly Bill 71, which would re-instate both the Public Intervenor and DNR Secretary to their former status.

Citing land use, meeting participants advocated mandatory land use plans on the local level. Urban and suburban sprawl are threatening and destroying wildlife habitat, farmland, and changing the character of the state.

"The environmental and conservation communities of Wisconsin have learned to put our

differences aside and instead concentrate on our common interests," said Rick Young of Pheasants Forever in Oregon. "We know we have so much in common, and this is a critical time for us to work together. Given our resources, our expertise, our spirit, and our sheer numbers, we know we can be a very strong force."

The Wisconsin Stewardship Network is a loose coalition of over 100 hunting, fishing and environmental groups throughout the state. Its mission is to build a cooperative environmental network that recaptures and strengthens Wisconsin's stewardship ethic for the betterment of its people and its natural resources. Those seeking more information can contact the Wisconsin Stewardship Network, c/o Wisconsin's Environmental Decade, 122 State Street, Suite 200, Madison, WI 53703, or call (608) 251-7020. The Wisconsin Stewardship Network also has a comprehensive and interactive home page on the World Wide Web, located at http://www.execpc.com/~wsn.
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