Gov. Jim Doyle announced plans to conserve 64,633 acres of land in three northern Wisconsin counties, marking the largest conservation land acquisition in state history.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and The Nature Conservancy negotiated an agreement with International Paper to purchase the land for more than $83 million. The Wisconsin Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund, Conservation Forestry LLC, Forest Investment Associates and The Nature Conservancy will fund the acquisition.
Last July we announced that we were looking at possibly selling as much as all of our U.S. forest lands,\ said International Paper spokesperson Amy Sawyer. ""We, at that time, had in the neighborhood of 6.8 million acres.""
Sawyer added the state's purchase was part of a nationwide effort to sell land due to the company's changing business objectives.
In a statement Wednesday, Doyle said this project would protect working forests, public access for recreation, wildlife habitats and water quality.
""This purchase ensures that these lands will be forever protected and remain a working, sustainably-managed forest available for the enjoyment of the generations to come,"" Doyle said. ""Had we not acted, it may have been sold off, piece by piece, and developed—its unspoiled beauty potentially lost to bulldozers and buildings.""
The project will not only protect forests, lakes and rivers, but also the state's economy, the statement read.
""Forestry is much more than an industry in Wisconsin—it is a part of who we are,"" Doyle said. ""Without a healthy forest industry, it is not possible to sustainably manage the forests in Wisconsin while producing the products that consumers demand and maintaining the recreational and ecological benefits that make Wisconsin such a great place to live.""
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