The Climate Conservation Solutions Initiative aims to accelerate the pace of conservation in northern Wisconsin through raising awareness and support of natural solutions to our changing climate. Natural climate solutions include conservation and restoration of forests, wetlands, grasslands and shorelands. Land conservation is a tool that offers real hope. Land that is left in its natural state will help lessen climate related impacts and build resilience to weather extremes.
Warming winters and more severe storms already are impacting the northern forests, wetlands and lakes. Consider the future. What would the northwoods be like without maple syrup, wild rice, ice fishing, snowmobiling, working forests, calling loons, plentiful walleye and clean, clear waters? The northwoods’ economy, culture and identity are tied to its natural resources and recreational opportunities which are now threatened. Land conservation is a proven, nature-based solution to address the impacts of climate change. More land needs to be set aside today to leave a meaningful legacy for tomorrow.
Forests and wetlands help lessen the impacts of more frequent extreme storms by holding water where it falls, keeping our communities safer during flooding and droughts. By trapping and storing carbon, they reduce the concentration of the greenhouse gas in the atmosphere and ease the severity of climate change. Preserving forests and wetlands and the corridors between them help animals and plants adapt to increased variability in seasonal temperature and precipitation.
Maintaining natural lake and river shorelands will help keep our waters clean even as more and more precipitation falls in fast, heavy downpours. Trees, shrubs, native grasses and wildflowers absorb rain and block the flow of water off lawns and roadways. Without that line of defense, storm runoff would carry soil, fertilizers and other pollutants to waters. The excess nutrients would spur algae blooms, increase water temperatures and degrade water quality.
Wisconsin Land & Water –
Climate Resilience Toolkit
usable, Wisconsin-specific resource that supports local decision-making by county and natural resource professionals
Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts –
Wisconsin’s Changing Climate
a report on the impacts, issues & solutions
Wisconsin State Climatology Office–
Specialized climate information
analyses of climate data & resources
University of Wisconsin-Extension-
Ecology, Culture, & Climate program
neat educational resources
Clean Wisconsin-
Action Network
get updates on climate issues and opportunities to get involved in advocacy
RENEW Wisconsin-
Building a roadmap for a zero carbon future
advocates for better policies & programs to advance renewable energy
Wisconsin Local Government Climate Coalition-
Climate platform for municipal members
a coordinated voice for local governments
Climate Change Response Framework-
Northwoods Regional Forest Vulnerability assessments
for northern WI, MI & MN
The Nature Conservancy-
Natural Climate Solutions
perspectives, case studies & resources
Land Trust Alliance –
Conservation in a Changing Climate
tools to learn, plan, adapt & inspire
Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission-
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
their updated 2023 (v.2) report on science &ecological traditional knowledge
Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science–
Adaption Workbook
a climate change tool for land management & conservation
US Department of Agriculture–
Climate Change Field Guide for Northern Wisconsin Forests
American Association for the Advancement of Science –
What We Know
a summary of the scientific evidence of climate change
NWLT is partnering with Gathering Waters and the Land Trust Alliance to demonstrate that land conservation is climate action. Learn about their climate programs and those of other organizations in Wisconsin and beyond.
Nature-based solutions can mitigate more than 1/3 of carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and help keep global average temperature increases under 2 °C, a goal set by the Paris Climate Agreement to prevent the most severe and destructive climate changes. Permanently conserving healthy land is climate action that has immediate results. Restoration of unhealthy forests and wetlands will take many decades to achieve comparable results.
Our region is now considered a climate haven. As more people migrate north, the population will grow, putting stress on infrastructure and natural resources. We need to act now to accelerate the pace of land conservation. Offer your support to protect land in the northwoods.
