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Wetland Gems Celebrated at Door County Festival of Nature

The Wisconsin Wetlands Association will celebrate the designation of 15 “Wetland Gems” in northeastern Wisconsin as part of the seventh annual Door County Festival of Nature, May 21 – 23.

Wetland Gems are high quality habitats that represent the wetland riches – marshes, swamps, bogs, fens, and more – that historically made up nearly a quarter of Wisconsin’s landscape. Critical to Wisconsin’s biodiversity, these natural treasures also provide our communities with valuable functions and services as well as recreational and educational opportunities. The list of 100 statewide Wetland Gems will be announced for the first time on May 18, 2009, in celebration of American Wetlands Month.

In a special evening program on Friday, May 22, at 7 pm at the Baileys Harbor Town Hall, Wisconsin Wetlands Association Outreach Program Director Katie Beilfuss and The Nature Conservancy’s Mike Grimm will highlight Wetland Gems sites in northeast Wisconsin and recognize landowners of these sites for their important contributions to wetland conservation in the region. They’ll also discuss local efforts to seek international recognition for some of these important wetlands.

The Door County Festival of Nature is featuring nine field trips to Door County Wetland Gem sites among the impressive array of 43 field trips to sites that are among the most pristine and unique natural areas in the county (and some of which are not typically open to the public). Field trips will be held Friday, May 22, and Saturday, May 23. Visit http://www.ridgessanctuary.org/festival.htm for information about the entire suite of field trips. Attendance on field trips is limited, and preregistration for field trips is required. Online registration is available on the Ridges Web site, or to receive a registration brochure by mail, email [email protected], or call The Ridges Sanctuary at 920.839.2802.