Retired DNR Scientists Organizing Effort To Increase Public Information On Environmental Issues

A group of retired environmental scientists are organizing in Baraboo this weekend with the goal of improving public outreach on environmental issues in light of cuts to the state Department of Natural Resources and the University of Wisconsin System.

Wisconsin Green Fire is a group of retired DNR and UW scientists who feel Gov. Scott Walker and Republican state lawmakers are limiting public access to environmental research.

On Friday and Saturday, the group will meet at the Aldo Leopold Foundation to elect its leadership.

Nancy Larson, former DNR Northern Water Program leader, said they’ve been deluged with calls for assistance from citizens and environmental groups on important conservation issues.

“Clearly there’s been an effort to kind of decrease the information getting out to people, to the media and that’s where we feel that we can step in with our experience and help,” Larson said.

She said the Baraboo meeting will also focus on fundraising and grant applications, which could help fund a full-time position.

“As we get ourselves up and running, we’ll be looking at various foundations or grants to see if we can get some larger funding to support our work,” Larson said. “So, at this point, it’s a bit of a shoestring, but we want to be want to be sure that we’re maintaining our independence.”

Wisconsin Green Fire first went public in April after a “March for Science” on Earth Day.