Natural Areas Preservation Council

The Natural Areas Preservation Council (NAPC) is the official advisory body for the DNR's State Natural Areas Program, guiding establishing, protecting, and managing State Natural Areas. In 1951, the Wisconsin legislature established the State Board for the Preservation of Scientific Areas (later renamed NAPC) with duties found in State Statutes Chapter 15.347(4) and Chapter 23.26. The council comprises 11 members with professional backgrounds in conservation biology, botany, zoology, ecology and geology. Members serve three-year terms and are listed below under their respective appointing institutions.

Council members

Councilors are appointed for 3-year terms by their respective appointing institutions.

Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters

Eric M. Anderson (Council Chair)
Emeritus Professor of Wildlife Ecology
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Stevens Point, WI

Marcia Bjornerud
Walter Schober, Professor of Environmental Studies and Professor of Geology
Lawrence University
Appleton, WI

Alexandra Bohman
Forest Ecologist, Division of Biological Services
Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission
Odanah, WI

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Vacant
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Madison, WI

Drew Feldkirchner (Council Secretary)
Director, Bureau of Natural Heritage Conservation
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Madison, WI

Craig Thompson
Chief, Program Integration Section
Bureau of Natural Heritage Conservation
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
La Crosse, WI

Milwaukee Public Museum

Christopher Tyrell
Research Curator
Milwaukee Public Museum
Milwaukee, WI

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Kevin Anderson
Science Education Consultant
Department of Public Instruction
Madison, WI

University of Wisconsin System

Three UW-System Vacancies
University of Wisconsin

Mission and core values

Mission Statement

Recognizing the critical role that State Natural Areas (SNAs) play in protecting Wisconsin’s natural heritage and pursuant to ss. 23.26, Wis. Stats., the Natural Areas Preservation Council mission is to:

• Advocate for a strong SNA Program
• Promote research and education on SNAs and
• Encourage scientifically-based management on and decision-making for SNAs.

Core Values and Principles

Professionalism: The Council will act in a democratic, professional and inclusive manner, operating with complete transparency in all that it does.

Stakeholder Involvement: The Council will involve and inform stakeholders with interest in SNAs and engage them in protection and management of SNAs.

Biological Diversity: Recognizing the intrinsic value of State Natural Areas, the Council will promote the establishment and management of SNAs as an integrated system to facilitate the protection of Wisconsin’s biodiversity.

Scientific Foundation: The Council will routinely reference the principles of conservation biology and apply them to SNA concerns. The Council maintains that natural areas need to be carefully monitored and managed based upon the principles of conservation biology. Scientific knowledge is important for the conservation, restoration and sustainability of SNAs.

Promote/Advocate: The Council will strive to protect the future and integrity of SNAs by championing individual SNAs and the SNA system at all levels including political, public and institutional. As needed, the Council will also take action to prevent harm to SNAs due to activities in or adjacent to SNA properties.

Education: The Council will promote educational activities that increase the awareness and understanding of SNAs, and encourage the appropriate use of SNAs as an educational resource to better understand Wisconsin's natural and cultural heritage.

Stewardship and Monitoring: The Council will support managing SNAs in a manner that is consistent with the statutorily defined purposes of SNAs. In addition, the Council supports ongoing monitoring and inventories in SNAs as an essential component of adaptive management.

Research: The Council will promote and encourage research that increases understanding of SNAs and their long-term management and protection, and will strive to support leading-edge or emerging natural areas research in SNAs.

Adopted: July 27, 2010

Meeting minutes

Council minutes are available upon request to the State Natural Areas Program.