Earth Day celebrates Wisconsin's environmental education heritage
4/24/2015
WisconsinOpinion.com

By Julie Lassa, D-Stevens Point, Wisconsin's 24th Senate District 

Earth Day is celebrated all over the world, but it originated as part of Wisconsin's conservation heritage. It was founded back in 1970 by former governor and senator Gaylord Nelson as a day that would be devoted to teaching and learning about the environment...
 
...That's why I'm concerned that the importance of preserving our conservation heritage is currently being undermined here at home. There has been much negative public reaction to the Governor's proposed freezing of the Stewardship Program, which preserves undeveloped natural spaces for the public to enjoy. But the budget also includes the largest cuts to the state's environmental education programs in their history. It eliminates the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board and repeals the legislative authority for the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education at UW-Stevens Point, a move that would end school forest grants to school districts statewide. The budget also cuts the Department of Instruction's environmental education staff. 


Article Tags

CNR; Budget