Women's History Month wrapped up almost a month ago, but we wanted to use this space to share a bit more about Wisconsin women who made important contributions to conservation. This post was sparked by a reminder about the work of Wisconsin's Frances Hamerstrom by our guest blog post writer, Barbara Duerksen. Frances was the first woman to earn a master's degree in wildlife management under Aldo Leopold at the University of Wisconsin. Hamerstrom was instrumental in efforts to save the prairie chicken after farming practices in the Midwest impacted natural habitats.
Photo Credit: Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia CommonsHave you ever heard a prairie chicken? The unforgettable sound and display must have captivated Frances and inspired her desire to work to bring them back. Here are some great videos to learn more about the remarkable prairie chicken and their habitat in our state.
What in the world is this??
Estella Leopold, daughter of the well known Aldo Leopold, became an expert in palynolgy, the study of fossilized pollen. Through her work with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) out west, she helped conserve the fossil beds near Denver, Colorado, which led to this special site being designated as a national monument. Dr. Leopold went on to lead the effort to also designate Mount Saint Helens as a National Monument. She authored over 100 research papers during her long career, and together with her siblings, helped establish the Aldo Leopold Foundation.
Emma Toft is known as "Wisconsin's First Woman of Conservation" for her work to establish Toft's Point in Door County as a large tract of land that has been relatively untouched for thousands of years. Toft's Point is now managed by the University of Wisconsin System. In a region that draws thousands of tourists each year, the protection of this unique place is an important feat. Here's a great PBS feature on Emma's important work.
Did you know that plastics recycling was advanced greatly by Milly Zantow of Sauk County? She is responsible for those little triangles on plastic items that help identify recyclables the world over. Milly noticed the problem of local landfills being overrun with plastics and she worked tirelessly to advocate for a system to sort and recycle. She also helped write the first mandatory state recycling law that was passed in 1990. Here's a great booklet for young people to learn of Milly's innovation.
More currently, August Ball has been influential in connecting people of color with work in environmental sciences and conservation. She created Cream City Consulting, a firm in Milwaukee to that helps connect people in underrepresented groups with opportunities for leadership in conservation and also works to support youth in a green jobs corps. August also serves on Governor Evers' Task Force on Climate Change.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WiDNR) recently appointed Heather Berklund as the first woman to lead the Forestry Division in its 116 years. Heather grew up with a love of Wisconsin forests and worked her way up through being a forester to leading departments and finally earning the appointment to her historic position. She is committed to sound practices in forest management across the state through connecting with diverse groups of people who rely upon them.
Locally, we salute the outgoing Executive Director of the Kickapoo Valley Reserve this month. Marcy West has been responsible for directing the management of over 8,600 acres that were returned by the federal government to the local Kickapoo Reserve Management Board and Ho-Chunk Nation in 1998. The Reserve is home to countless important plant, bird, and other wildlife species, in addition to special habitat areas and ecosystems. Visited by thousands of people each year, this special place has been a beloved gem of those who call the Driftless region home and a special destination for recreational users and people who love wild places. Thank you, Marcy!
For more information about Women in Conservation and Environmental Sciences, visit these posts:
https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/2021/02/08/women-of-wisconsin-conservation/
https://womeninwisconsin.org/category/agriculture-environment/
https://www.aldoleopold.org/post/women-of-conservations-past-and-present/
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