By Steve Mueller, President, 2021

This famous quote by Henry David Thoreau was on a poster in my college dorm room 50 years ago. It was accompanied by a picture of an old growth forest, dark and primeval. Now I picture it as an old growth hemlock forest on the north end of Madeline Island. The quote has become more powerful over the years and now seems to be a true call to action for a world challenged with the effects of climate change and the accelerating loss of natural habitat and biodiversity.

The Madeline Island Wilderness Preserve embodies this call to action, and I am proud to be the president of an organization that is part of the local solution to this global problem. Recently I read how scientists, governments (including the US), and nongovernmental organizations around the world are calling for a target of protecting 30% of lands, oceans and inland waters by 2030. Called 30 by 30, it is seen as one of the best ways to curb mass extinction and to address the crisis of climate change. Our organization has been doing its part to address the problem of habitat loss by building a preserve of protected woodlands and marshes on Madeline Island for over 30 years. Our land holdings, along with the efforts of the broader Island community and the State of Wisconsin, have already set aside almost 30% of Madeline Island to be protected from development.

Land and trails

The Wilderness Preserve is a healthy and dynamic organization charged with protecting the Island’s habitat and preserving its plants and wildlife, ensuring they will remain undisturbed for future generations. This past year, during the pandemic, our lands and our trails have offered much needed solace for the Island community and its visitors. In all seasons our trails have been used for exploration, learning, and recreation.

We have recently partnered with the new Madeline Island Trails (MIT) organization to help upgrade Island trails and encourage their use and expansion (see related article in this newsletter). Volunteers from both organizations will be out there, repairing and improving the trails to create a better experience for everyone.

Education

Last year, all of our programming was canceled due to the pandemic — a huge disappointment. This year, respecting pandemic rules, our education programs will focus on outdoor hikes and talks with naturalists on the Island. We want our members and visitors out on our lands, enjoying their beauty, and learning about these unique ecosystems. Please visit our website at www.miwp.org for the latest updates on these events.

Invasive Species

The invasive woody species, buckthorn and barberry, have not taken a break from their threatening spread during the pandemic. We will continue with our ongoing program of containment and eradication. We have been in this fight for almost a decade now and are achieving good results. Please follow our progress and learn about these efforts on our website and in a related article in this newsletter.

Giving back to the community

The Wilderness Preserve recently made a grant of $5,000 to the Town of LaPointe’s emergency services building fund to help pay the costs of native landscaping. Hopefully this summer you will be able to see the results coming out of the freshly turned earth.

Get involved

As with many other organizations on the Island, the pandemic has made it difficult to gather together. We have not been able to celebrate with our membership at our annual spring reception, nor have we been able to provide educational outreach. There wasn’t even a 4th of July parade for us to display our creative talents!

Many of us have gotten our vaccinations and activities have begun to reopen with safety measures, so we have (tentatively) scheduled our 2021 annual meeting for Saturday, September 4th, at the Madeline Island School of the Arts (MISA). Please put it on your calendar. Invitations will arrive in midsummer. We will keep you posted should pandemic rules force us to change plans.

Farewell Friend

On a personal note, I want to acknowledge the passing of Phil Greenberg, a long-time board member and one of the founders of the Wilderness Preserve. Phil was a friend and a mentor to me. He uniquely modeled land stewardship on Madeline Island. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Steve Mueller, Board President