Public Lands

 By guest contributor and collections volunteer, Nancy Lizette Berlin.

An important aspect of collecting plants for an herbarium is knowing where you are collecting - not only to document the specific location for the herbarium label but also to gain permission. Private property permission is one thing, as permits may otherwise be required from public lands.

We all gain from the natural beauty, ecological services and quality of life provided by the abundance of public lands in northern WI. Federal lands such as the Chequamegon National Forest (U.S. Forest Service) and the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (National Park Service) have different policies when it comes to plant collecting. Plants that are not designated as threatened, endangered or sensitive can be collected from national forests as long as not for commercial use. National Parks require a permit and require collections be kept in park service facilities and not be available elsewhere. 

On State Lands, permits are required for Scientific and Natural Areas and the Cable Natural History Museum maintains such a permit for the 10 natural areas nearby/in two counties.  The WI DNR can also issue Endangered and Threatened Species Permits for educational and scientific purposes. County land departments do not necessarily restrict collection.

Land Ownership in Northern Wisconsin Study Area map. Sourced from the Wisconsin DNR.

Of Wisconsin’s 34.8 million acres, 5.7 million or 16.5 percent of the state are public lands. Additionally,1.5 million of those acres are managed by the federal government, the State 1.5 million acres and the counties 2.6 million. Bayfield County has more public land (at 464,673 acres) than any other county in Wisconsin. Is it any wonder this is a great place to live and visit?