Dane County Set to Approve New Wildlife Conservation Area

by Siwoo Park, age 12

Dane County recently awarded $900,000 to the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance. The SWBA will proceed with a conservation project to preserve native wildlife species in a sanctuary near CamRock County Park in eastern Dane County. The 2,600 acres of conservation land will include public access, educational opportunities, and captivating scenery. One goal is to emphasize the importance of native species.

In addition to Dane County’s funding, SWBA was also awarded $1.4 million from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship.

The 2,600 acres that SWBA bought from David Gunnulson will be used to create and preserve habitats that are new and old. The SWBA will protect native butterflies, birds, and plants within a crucial habitat area. The location is about two miles south of CamRock County Park in the town of Christiana.

Dane County officials are hoping the new efforts from SWBA will provide habitats for many species and encourage similar conservation projects in Wisconsin. Additionally, they hope this conservation effort will lead to the creation of more biodiversity in the state, since the new sanctuary has prairie, woods, and grassland.

There was pushback when another project, the Koshkonong Solar Energy Center, was proposed for the site. That plan would have replaced a natural land with a solar farm.

Dane County Board member Kerry Marren says the public can feel reassured that SWBA’s project will bring balance to the ecology of the area after the construction of the Koshkonong’s solar farm project.

The County Board will likely approve the plan in the next few weeks, which will allow the project to start.

[Sources: Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance; Wisconsin State Journal]