The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin recently awarded a total of $21,559 through its C.D. Besadny Conservation Grant Program to 30 organizations across the state to implement conservation projects.
Three area organizations received awards. They include: Nature’s Classroom Institute, Jericho Creek Boardwalk Construction, Mukwonago; Camp Timber-lee, Oak Savanna Alliance Educational Workshop, East Troy; and Kettle Moraine State Forest, Scuppernong River Habitat Preservation, Eagle.
The projects range from re-establishing a native salamander population to working with students to sample lakes in northern Wisconsin.
The matching small grants program was established in 1990 to support projects in Wisconsin that promote the responsible stewardship of Wisconsin’s natural resources at the local level. Grants ranging from $100 to $1,000 are awarded annually to projects that benefit the public, involve management and restoration of Wisconsin’s natural resources, or contribute to knowledge about Wisconsin’s natural resources through education.
Recipients are required to match the grant on a 1:1 basis with funds or in-kind services. Since its inception, the C.D. Besadny Conservation Grant Program has awarded $420,000 to more than 500 organizations across the state.
C.D. “Buzz” Besadny was the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources from 1980 to 1993, and founded the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin in 1986.
“The Foundation is honored to make these grants to support conservation and education projects across the state in honor of Buzz Besadny,” said Ruth Oppedahl, executive director of the Natural Resources Foundation. “Wisconsin’s natural resources continue to benefit from the legacy of Buzz’s 42 year career at the Department of Natural Resources.”
Other 2014 C.D. Besadny Conservation grantees include:
• Beaver Creek Reserve, Chippewa Valley Bat Stewards Program, Fall Creek;
• Cable Community Farm, Native Plant Pollinator Project, Cable;
• Catholic Multicultural Center, Community Environmental Program, Madison;
• Clean Lakes Alliance, “Renew the Blue” Leaf Management Program, Madison;
• Dane County Humane Society, Raptors in Recovery Video Monitoring System, Madison;
• Friends of Horicon Marsh, Great Blue Heron Camera, Horicon;
• Friends of Lapham Peak State Forest, Invasive Species Removal, Delafield;
• International Crane Foundation, Prairie Restoration Education, Baraboo;
• Izaak Walton League, Southwestern Wisconsin Chapter, Youth in the Outdoors, Benton;
• Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Learning from the Passenger Pigeon, Wausau;
• Mequon Nature Preserve, Re-establishing a Salamander Population, Mequon;
• Natural Heritage Land Trust, Tools for Westport Drumlin State Natural Area, Madison;
• Navarino Nature Center, Glen’s Pond Boardwalk Signage, Shiocton;
• Open Door Bird Sanctuary, Hunters of the Sky Raptor Program, Sturgeon Bay;
• Ozaukee Washington Land Trust, Treasures of Oz 2015 Eco-Tour, West Bend;
• School District of New Berlin, Comprehensive Recycling Project, New Berlin;
• Southwest Badger RC&D, Forest Engagement and Education, Platteville;
• Trees for Tomorrow, Testing Northern Wisconsin Lakes with Students, Eagle River;
• UW-Milwaukee Field Station – Climate Change Tracking Equipment, Saukville;
• Village of Grantsburg, Purple Martins Project, Grantsburg;
• West Wisconsin Land Trust, Grosbeaks Galore Landscape Program, Menomonie;
• Mead Wildlife Area, Wild Rice Restoration Project, Milladore; and
• Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association, Wisconsin Envirothon, Madison.
The next application deadline for the C.D. Besadny Conservation Grant Program is September 2015. More information can be found at wisconservation.org.
The Natural Resources Foundation is a statewide non-profit organization that raises private funding for publicly owned lands and waters in Wisconsin.
