From the De;partment of Natural Resourcs:
IDNR awards nearly $700,000 to support stewardship of Illinois natural areas
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) today announced $697,816 in grants to support 14 grants stewardship programs managed by land trusts on land protected by the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission (INPC).
The grants are part of the Illinois Natural Areas Stewardship Grant Program, which aims to increase the delivery of much-needed land and water stewardship activities to natural areas permanently protected within the provides funding to eligible land trusts for activities that protect and restore natural areas within the INPC system. Given the growing stewardship needs of natural areas throughout Illinois, this grant program funds projects that help land trusts expand staff and purchase equipment for these activities.
One of the grants–$22,000–was awarded to a McHenry organization: Land Conservancy of McHenry County for contractual support for invasive species control and suitable habitat expansion at the 70-acre Yonder Prairie Nature Preserve at 1220 S Rose Farm Road in Woodstock.
The Land Conservancy of McHenry County describes the nature preserve: “Yonder Prairie Nature Preserve is a 70-acre wet prairie, sedge meadow and oak savanna complex. Prior to the purchase of this land in 2008, it was deemed the highest quality unprotected natural area in the county. Walking through this site, you’ll pass by pockets of remnant wet prairie – areas that rarely have standing water, but the soil is saturated and moist most of the year. The adjacent oak savannas and woodlands have been transformed from buckthorn thickets into native habitat for birds, mammals and pollinators. One-quarter of the dragonfly species in Illinois are found here.”
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About the Natural Areas Stewardship Grant program
Eligible applicants under the Natural Areas Stewardship Grant program are conservation land trusts exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and whose originating documents include in its purpose the restoration, stewardship or conservation of land for the preservation of native plants or animals, biotic communities, geologic formations or archaeological sites of significance.
Since 2001, more than $4.3 million has been awarded to conservation land trusts for supported activities including invasive species control, prescribed fire and restoration of natural communities.
Grants also may fund equipment used for natural areas stewardship, including utility terrain vehicles, sprayers, personal protective equipment and hand tools for volunteers.
Funding for the grant program is derived from a portion of the Illinois Natural Areas Acquisition Fund.
The fund must be used by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for the acquisition and stewardship of natural areas, including habitats for endangered and threatened species.
