The North Branch Restoration Project is a group of dedicated citizens that work to help protect and restore native Illinois ecosystems. Precious remnants of our Illinois natural heritage are still found along the North Branch of the Chicago River, in forest preserves and other public lands. They hold remnants of the rich plant and animal communities that once graced the broad Illinois landscape.
We dream of a future where healthy native landscapes are managed for the benefit of all and where a knowledgeable public works hand in hand with landowners.
For in the end, we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught. — Baba Dioum
But nature in the midst of a busy metropolitan area needs some help to thrive. Through hands-on efforts, we work to reverse some of the negative effects of human activities. By removing introduced weeds and invasive brush, we reduce competition that threatens native plants. Collecting and scattering seeds of native species, we restore the grasses and wildflowers to places where they’ve died out. And we help the Forest Preserve District bring back restorative fire to the prairies and woodlands.
The North Branch Restoration Project is an all-volunteer organization. We are teachers, pipe-fitters, lawyers, business owners, pharmacists, and students. We welcome all who care about the natural land to join this exciting and rewarding work!
We work in cooperation with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, the Volunteer Stewardship Network of The Nature Conservancy and the many conservation organizations within the Chicago Wilderness coalition.
TAKING THE PULSE OF NATURE
There are some great training opportunities available in the coming months. The Plants of Concern program, housed at the Chicago Botanic Garden under the direction of Susanne Masi, offers several training programs in April. Monitors collect valuable information on rare plants to help insure they survive and flourish. Through this program, citizen scientists have the opporunity to learn or hone their skills while gathering important information about the state of our natural communities.
NATURE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
Join Friends of the Forest Preserves and North Branch Restoration Project as we begin a series of lectures on connecting with nature right in your backyard. The first presentation is Thursday, April 24th. John Rogner, US Fish and Wildlife, will talk about the forest preserves, remnants of our rich Illinois natural heritage. Marcus de la Fleur, Landscape Architect, will present interesting strategies for greening our home landscapes. Check here for details.
We abuse the land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect. — Aldo Leopold
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Problem Plants
Removing buckthorn, an invasive shrub introduced from Europe. If allowed, it will take over the woodlands, shading out the native grasses and wildflowers.
Collecting Native Seeds
Seeds are key to restoring the native groundlayer. Ripe seeds are collected and re-distributed in restoration sites along the North Branch.
Bringing Back Fire
Fire shaped the landscape for thousands of years before settlement. Part of making the prairies and woodlands healthy again is restoring this important natural process. |
