Office of Governor Tony Evers *FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:* April 28, 2025 Contact: [email protected]    *ICYMI: Gov. Evers Wraps Up Statewide Earth Week Tour, Highlights 2025-27 Budget Investments to Protect State’s Natural Resources, Support Climate Resilience *  

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers last week wrapped up his statewide tour celebrating Earth Week, during which he visited local parks, communities, fish hatcheries, conservation groups, and more across the state to celebrate Earth Day, Forest Appreciation Week, and Arbor Day. During his week-long celebrations, Gov. Evers highlighted his 2025-27 Executive Budget investments that aim to help ensure Wisconsin’s kids can enjoy the state’s vast and vibrant natural resources for future generations, including investments to preserve the state’s water, lands, and forests, support Wisconsin’s State Park System, bolster clean energy, reauthorizing the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, and more. More about Gov. Evers’ budget proposals to enhance climate resilience and protect Wisconsin’s natural resources can be found here [ [link removed] ].  

 

The governor’s 2025 Earth Day proclamation is available here [ [link removed] ]. Gov. Evers also proclaimed Forest Appreciation Week, which ran from April 21 to Arbor Day (April 25). The governor’s Forest Appreciation Week and Arbor Day proclamation is available here [ [link removed] ]. 

 

“Conservation and protecting our natural resources are core to who we are as Wisconsinites—it’s part of our DNA. I was excited to join Wisconsinites across our state in celebrating Earth Day, Arbor Day, and Forest Appreciation Week as we continue our important work toward preserving our state’s natural lands, waters, and resources for future generations of Wisconsinites to enjoy and appreciate,” said Gov. Evers. “Here in Wisconsin, we can't afford to choose between mitigating climate change and protecting our environment or creating good-paying jobs and building a strong economy—we can and must do both. I was glad to spend this past week building upon my administration's efforts over the last six years and highlighting key recommendations in my biennial budget to help us continue this important work in the years ahead. I will continue to urge the Legislature to join us in protecting and preserving our state's proud history and tradition as a conservation state.” 

 

The governor and the Evers Administration invited Wisconsinites to celebrate Earth Week—including Earth Day and Arbor Day—by taking action around their own homes and communities to reduce waste, recycle, conserve water, and take small steps that can have a big impact on helping protect and conserve Wisconsin’s natural resources, improve local neighborhoods and communities, outdoor spaces, and parks, and help respond to and mitigate climate change. A list of five steps Wisconsinites can take to protect the state’s natural resources and celebrate during Earth Week and beyond, including links to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) resources to help, is available here [ [link removed] ]. 

 

From the 12 Native Nations in Wisconsin that have been stewards of the land since long before Wisconsin became a state to Wisconsin’s farmers and producers to hunters, anglers, and outdoor recreational enthusiasts, Wisconsin has a long and proud history of environmental stewardship and conservation. Founded in 1970 by former Wisconsin Governor and U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, Earth Day was created to raise awareness about air and water pollution. More than 50 years later, Earth Day is observed around the world. 

 

On Mon., April 21, Gov. Evers, together with DNR Secretary Karen Hyun, kicked off Earth Week with a visit to the Les Voight State Fish Hatchery in Bayfield, where they were joined by stakeholders and DNR staff for a tour. During the tour, the governor and secretary heard about how the hatchery works to raise millions of lake trout, splake, and brown trout for stocking in Lake Superior and many inland lakes and streams throughout the state. The governor also highlighted how he included over $388,000 in his 2025-27 Executive Budget to support state-owned fish hatcheries and conduct additional creel surveys in ceded territory waters. Additionally, the governor is proposing $2 million in Tribal gaming revenues to create program that would provide Tribal Nations with grants to repair and maintain Tribal-owned fish hatcheries.  Photos from the event are available here [ [link removed] ] and here [ [link removed] ]. 

 

To conclude the first day of Earth Week celebrations, Gov. Evers and Secretary Hyun helped kick off a week of 2025 NFL Draft celebrations in Wisconsin at the NFL Draft Tree Planting Event at Amelia Cornelius Culture Park in Hobart. The governor and secretary, along with representatives of the NFL Draft, Verizon, the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, and the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers, participated in a ceremonial tree planting to highlight the NFL Draft week and celebrate Earth Day. A photo from the event is available here [ [link removed] ].  

 

On Earth Day, Tues., April 22, Gov. Evers, together with members of the Evers Administration, hosted an annual day of service at Governor Nelson State Park in Waunakee. During the event, the administration planted trees and celebrated the release [ [link removed] ] of Wisconsin’s Trillion Trees Pledge 2024 Annual Report [ [link removed] ]. The report shows that Wisconsin planted nearly 10.7 million trees and conserved more than 57,000 acres of forestland in the state in 2024 as part of Wisconsin’s Trillion Trees Pledge [ [link removed] ]. On Earth Day 2021, Gov. Evers signed Executive Order #112 [ [link removed] ], joining the pledge and committing to plant 75 million new trees and conserve 125,000 acres of forest in Wisconsin by the end of 2030. Last year, on Earth Day [ [link removed] ], Gov. Evers signed Executive Order #221 [ [link removed] ] increasing the state’s tree-planting goal to 100 million trees by the end of 2030. In just the fourth year of the state’s Trillion Trees Pledge, Wisconsin has already achieved more than 40 percent of its tree-planting goal and more than 60 percent of its forest conservation goal. Photos from the event are available here [ [link removed] ] and here [ [link removed] ].  

 

On Wed., April 23, Gov. Evers started his day by joining stakeholders for a hike at the Wintergreen property in Spring Green, which is managed by the Driftless Area Land Conservancy (DALC), a nonprofit organization that works to maintain and enhance the health and diversity of Southwest Wisconsin’s natural and agricultural landscape through permanent land protection and restoration. The DALC hopes to purchase the Wintergreen property through Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program funds, federal funds, and private donations. Through these funds, the DALC hopes to renovate the building, driveway, and parking lot of the Wintergreen property. Additionally, these funds would help the DALC manage the land for native biodiversity and climate resilience and build a sustainable trail system for nature-based recreation. Photos from the event are available here [ [link removed] ] and here [ [link removed] ]. 

 

Then, to conclude his day, the governor joined stakeholders for a hike at the Faville Grove Sanctuary in Lake Mills. The Faville Grove Sanctuary, owned by the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance, has received funding through the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. The Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance’s mission is to restore habitat for grassland, wetland, and woodland birds through action, advocacy, and education. Photos from the event are available here [ [link removed] ] and here [ [link removed] ].  

On Fri., April 25, Gov. Evers, together with Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) Commissioner Kristy Nieto, visited the Waupaca City Hall in Waupaca, to learn about the city’s newly installed solar array and energy storage system, which was funded partially by a $240,000 Energy Innovation Grant and the city utilized Focus on Energy incentives to cover an additional $41,000 for the project from the PSC. During the visit, Gov. Evers highlighted his 2025-27 Executive Budget which includes a $20 million investment into the Energy Innovation Grant Program. Since its inception in 2017, the Energy Innovation Grant Program has awarded nearly $40 million to 169 projects across the state. Photos from the event are available here [ [link removed] ] and here [ [link removed] ]. 

Then, to wrap up his statewide Earth Week tour, Gov. Evers visited Willow River State Park in Hudson, where he was joined by stakeholders and community members for a hike. During the visit, Gov. Evers celebrated 125 years of the Wisconsin State Park System and highlighted his 2025-27 Executive Budget investments for state parks across Wisconsin, including over $15 million for capital development and property maintenance projects throughout the state park system. Photos from the event are available here [ [link removed] ] and here [ [link removed] ].

  An online version of this release is available here [ [link removed] ]. ###

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