Pheasants Forever, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) are celebrating a partnership milestone this week after surpassing 100,000 acres of conservation impacts in The Badger State through the Farm Bill Biologist (FBB) Partnership.
Established in the state of Wisconsin in 2007, the
FBB Partnership has provided a valuable benefit to landowners who are interested in voluntary conservation program enrollment. Commonly referred to as the “One Stop Shop” for anything conservation or wildlife-related on private lands, Pheasants Forever and partners possess the knowledge of federal, state, and local programs to assist landowners in finding the right program to meet their personal habitat and land use goals. Since 2007, Wisconsin’s biologist team has assisted over 11,000 landowners to impact over 105,000 acres for wildlife habitat conservation efforts.
“Achieving this 100,000-acre milestone is a testament to the great partnership we have with Pheasants Forever,” said NRCS State Conservationist Angela Biggs. “Most important is the number of private landowners assisted, which directly relates to more conservation on the ground across our great state.”
Kent Van Horn, Chief for the Bird and Habitat Section at WDNR remarked, “Wow, over 100,000 acres of conservation impact! The FBB program is a key partnership that the WDNR is proud to be a part of. Managing statewide wildlife populations that depend upon grassland habitat requires a partnership between public and private landowners. This agreement with Pheasants Forever and the NRCS provides a unique model that allows us to combine our strengths and assist private landowners to advance our collective conservation mission.”
Currently, Pheasants Forever’s conservation team in Wisconsin includes 10 staff members accounting for a work region of 72 counties. In addition to landowner technical assistance, the state’s conservation team is also responsible for helping implement the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (public access), providing precision agriculture assessments, evaluating pheasant stamp projects, and planning Women Caring for the Land events with trusted partners.
“Our team works with a passion that continues to amaze me,” said Marty Moses, Wisconsin State Coordinator for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. “They build strong relationships with Wisconsin’s landowners, elevate our partners and their programs, and proudly represent our Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever chapters and volunteers every chance they get. And they do it all with humility, integrity, and enthusiasm.”
For questions related to voluntary conservation program enrollment or to schedule a site meeting,
search for the nearest Pheasants Forever biologist or contact a team member below:
About Pheasants Forever
Pheasants Forever, including its quail conservation division,
Quail Forever, is the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have more than 138,000 members and 760 local chapters across the United States and Canada. Since creation in 1982, Pheasants Forever has spent over $900 million on 550,000 habitat projects benefiting 19 million acres nationwide. In fact, more than 200,000 of those acres are now permanently protected as public lands.
Media Contact
Jared Wiklund
(651) 209-4953
jwiklund@pheasantsforever.org
Picture Credit: Tim Whalen