Our state contains a large diversity of native plant communities ranging from eastern deciduous, northern coniferous, and boreal forests to prairies and savannas. Wisconsin's glacial past left the soils that support these diverse communities. The glaciers also left Wisconsin a legacy of aquatic features including bogs, lakes, spring ponds, and wetlands. And one cannot overlook the rivers that led early explorers to the awesome sights they beheld. This landscape hosts a wide array of native species, many of which we observe and cherish while others are yet to be discovered and studied.
People are also part of the Wisconsin landscape.
The natural wealth of our state has provided generations of farmers with fertile soils for crops. The northern and southern forests are a key resource for the building and manufacturing economy so important to the livelihood of many of Wisconsin's citizens. The enjoyment that people receive from outdoor activities, such as hunting and fishing, hiking and camping, and observing nature, is part of our culture. Thus, the ties that bind people to nature are diverse and deep. But much of this natural splendor has been lost through human use of the landscape and its natural resources.