Section 26.39. Forestry education and training.

 

(1)   Definitions. In this section:

(a) “School forest" means a community forest that is owned or operated by a school as provided in s. 28.20 .

(b) “Sustainable forestry" has the meaning given in s. 28.04 (1) (e) .

(2)   Forestry education curriculum; schools. Using the moneys appropriated under s. 20.370 (1) (cu) , the department, in cooperation with the Center for Environmental Education in the College of Natural Resources at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, shall develop a forestry education curriculum for grades kindergarten to 12.

(5)   Funding for school forests. The department shall use the moneys allocated under s. 28.085 to provide funding to school districts that have school forests for the purposes of maintaining the school forests and for transporting pupils to and from the school forests. The department shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this subsection, including educational and forest management requirements that school districts must meet to receive funding under this subsection.

(6)   Forestry internships. The department shall use the moneys allocated under s. 28.085 to provide internships to University of Wisconsin System students who are enrolled in a course of study that will result in a bachelor's or higher degree in forestry. The department shall promulgate rules establishing the application process and the criteria for receipt of an internship under this subsection.

(7)   Logging certification scholarships.

(a) From the appropriation under s. 20.370 (5) (ax) , the department shall establish a scholarship grant program to assist individuals who are seeking certification by the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association as master loggers or who are seeking logger safety training certified by the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association. A scholarship grant under the program may not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of receiving the certification or training. The department shall promulgate rules that establish criteria for the program.

(b) The department shall allocate $50,000 for fiscal year 2005-06 and $150,000 for each subsequent fiscal year for scholarship grants under this program.

2001 a. 16 , 109 ; 2005 a. 25 ; 2009 a. 28 , 181 ; 2011 a. 32 , 258 .