Hundreds of volunteers spent more than 8,350 hours maintaining Wisconsin's state natural areas in 2025, according to an annual report from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
The volunteer work took place across 5,124 acres of public land through individual projects and organized group events. Volunteers clear brush, collect seed, and control invasive species at the sites, the agency said.
State natural areas in Wisconsin protect the state's rarest plants and wildlife. The network contains 90 percent of Wisconsin's rare plant species and 75 percent of its rare wildlife species, according to the DNR.
The state natural areas program was created in 1951 and is celebrating 75 years of conservation work. Nearly all state natural areas are open to the public for hiking, hunting, birdwatching, and nature photography.
"Our volunteers have an on the ground impact on our state natural areas," said Jared Urban, the DNR's state natural area volunteer program coordinator. "It's wonderful to see the changes they make happen while connecting with each other and the natural beauty of Wisconsin."