The two stewards teams met in a joint monthly meeting in August. They focused their attention on four topics.
All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and off-road vehicles (OHVs) are adversely impacting forests, wetlands and wildlife inhabiting those areas. The DNR is falling in with the motorsports industry for more use, but is unable and/or reluctant to regulate them. There is no signage to keep them from staying on approved trails, so these drivers are building a web of unauthorized vehicle trails in our forests and wetlands. This ruins these landscapes, harms wildlife movement, and spreads invasive species.
Agriculture carbon sequestration and soil health asis an important part of storing carbon and reducing pollution.
Protecting lowland conifers and peatlands is advocated in a proposed Lowland Conifer Carbon Reserve (LCCR). These forests and landscapes have the capability to store and sequester large amounts of carbon. An LCCR would be an important part in combating climate change, and would protect this unique and rare landscape and its wildlife. Protections are needed because the DNR continues to propose harvesting trees where there is good access.
Neonicotinoid pesticides’ impacts on bugs (including pollinators) and critters: Neonicotinoids are the most popular insecticide in the US. They are used as seed coatings for about 75% of the corn and 33% of the soybeans planted in the country. Uptake of this pesticide by the plants makes the whole plant toxic, including pollen and nectar. They are having a devastating effect on pollinators and aquatic insects and the animals that eat them.