About the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

The Department of Natural Resources is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the natural resources and environment of Wisconsin. It manages state fish, wildlife, forests, parks, air and water resources, and environmental protection.

Our Mission

To protect and enhance our natural resources:

our air, land and water;
our wildlife, fish and forests
and the ecosystems that sustain all life.

To provide a healthy, sustainable environment

and a full range of outdoor opportunities.

To ensure the right of all people

to use and enjoy these resources
in their work and leisure.

To work with people

to understand each other's views
and to carry out the public will.

And in this partnership

consider the future
and generations to follow.

The Well-being of Wisconsin's Natural Resources

Throughout Wisconsin's history, the well-being of its people has been tied to the well-being of its natural resources. The fresh water, fertile soil, clean air, vast forests, flourishing and abundant wildlife constituted the basis of life, livelihood, and recreation for many generations of native and newly arrived Wisconsinites.

Recognizing that the valuable natural resources of our state could only be protected and wisely managed through a coordinated effort, the Wisconsin Legislature created the Department of Natural Resources in 1967. In creating the Department, the Legislature brought together closely related traditional conservation functions such as fish, parks, wildlife, and forest management and combined them with newly emerging environmental protection responsibilities such as water pollution control, solid waste management, and air pollution cleanup.

Related Sites

• Wisconsin.gov [exit DNR]
• Wisconsin State Legislature [exit DNR]
• Office of the Governor [exit DNR]
• Wisconsin State Statutes [exit DNR]
• Wisconsin Administrative Codes [exit DNR]