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Western Great Lakes Media

RGS & AWS Joins Conservation Community in Calling for Passage of Minnesota Outdoor Heritage Fund Bill

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The Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society has joined a broad coalition of conservation organizations urging Minnesota legislative leaders and Gov. Tim Walz to pass the Outdoor Heritage Fund appropriations bill before the legislative session adjourns on May 18. In a joint letter signed by leaders across Minnesota’s conservation community, organizations called on lawmakers to set aside ongoing governance disputes and advance the $191 million funding package that supports critical habitat and public access projects across the state. The proposed legislation would invest in land protection, wetland restoration, prairie and forest habitat, fish and wildlife habitat improvements and public outdoor access...

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From Storm Damage to Wildlife Habitat: Recovery Work Underway in Wisconsin

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When a devastating winter storm swept through northwestern Wisconsin in December 2022, it left behind a level of forest damage few had ever seen before. Dubbed the “Blue Blizzard” because of the heavy, moisture-laden snow that appeared blue in color, the storm caused widespread destruction across large portions of Douglas County. Trees snapped under the weight or bent permanently toward the ground, leaving thousands of acres of damaged forest that would never fully recover. The storm also blocked miles of forest roads and recreational trails, cutting off access for outdoor recreation, forest management and wildlife habitat work. Now, through a collaborative conservation...

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RGS & AWS Adds Alyssa Roberts as Forest Wildlife Specialist in Minnesota

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Alyssa Roberts joins RGS & AWS as forest wildlife specialist, bringing extensive field experience in wildlife biology, forest habitat management and natural resources research across northern Minnesota. Roberts has built her career working directly in the field, with eight years of experience as a seasonal technician for the U.S. Forest Service on both the Chippewa National Forest and Superior National Forest, followed by two years in environmental consulting. Her work has focused on supporting forest stewardship, wildlife monitoring and science-based management practices that improve habitat for a wide range of species. Throughout her career, Roberts has collaborated with multiple conservation partners including...

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The Wisconsin Forestry Revitalization Act Officially Passes

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The Wisconsin Forestry Revitalization Act (SB 456) represents a major step forward for the state’s forest economy, creating new markets for low-value wood and strengthening the long-term health of Wisconsin’s working forests. Central to the legislation is support for a proposed woody biomass facility in Hayward that would convert forest material into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This initiative is expected to drive up to $1.5 billion in total investment across Northern Wisconsin’s forest products sector, supported by performance-based incentives of up to $120 million in tax credits to attract private capital and secure the project locally. Just as important as the economic...

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The Future of Upland Conservation: Dr. Ben Jones on Gamebird University

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To listen to the full episode, visit apple podcasts here

Young forests, bird dogs and the future of upland conservation, this episode of Gamebird University has it all.

Hosts James Callicutt and Mark McConnell welcome Dr. Ben Jones, CEO of RGS & AWS, for a field-tested look at what it really takes to sustain ruffed grouse, American woodcock and the people who care for them.

From GPS tracking and habitat management to shifting public perception and the rise of bird-dog culture, this conversation cuts to the heart of young-forest conservation in the South and why it matters across the range.

Prescribed Burning in Forest Management in the Upper Great Lakes

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by Jared Elm, RGS & AWS Forest Conservation Coordinator – Wisconsin Fire in the upper Great Lakes region is certainly not a new concept. In fact, most of our plant and wildlife species in the region are fire-adapted and rely on the disturbance created through fire to flourish, the beloved ruffed grouse being one of those species.  Public land managers, private landowners, tribal managers and everyone in between have been burning since the inception of the modern concept of “prescribed fire,” also known as controlled burning. Prescribed fire is a planned fire used to meet specific management objectives that can range…

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