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A Letter from the Director and Chair
Illinois' State Director and Chair of the Board look back on a year marked with conservation success stories. Despite an economic downturn, the Conservancy has made big strides toward even bigger goals.
On the Wings of a New Generation
Intent on discovering how birds are responding to a quickly changing world, researchers trekked across Illinois' grasslands, farmlands, cities and suburbs for three years to plot the location of all species of birds they encountered.
Conservation for the Birds
Scientists are studying how changes in Illinois' landscapes have impacted the diverse bird species that reside or migrate through the state.
Designing the Prairie of the Future
Decades of conservation work at places like the Conservancy's Nachusa Grasslands Preserve could be compromised without meticulous planning for growing issues such as climate change.
Illinois' Fresh Ideas for Fresh Water
Michael Reuter, senior director of Central U.S. conservation strategies, talks about Illinois' pivotal role in the health of these freshwater resources and how the work connects to river conservation world-wide.
Putting Some Mussel in It
Freshwater mussels are imperiled worldwide, and many species are nearly extinct. But a new project, the first of its kind attempted on the Illinois River, could provide a solution to this large-scale problem.
Improving River Health
The first effort in Illinois to grow freshwater mussels in a controlled backwater environment could provide a model for restoring mussel populations in rivers all over North America.
Agriculture and the Mississippi
The Nature Conservancy is on the cutting edge of new techniques to reduce agricultural runoff into the Mississppi River — with benefits for people and nature.
Illinois Chapter Financial Summary
In FY09, Illinois donors committed $5,879,040 for the Conservancy's work in Illinois and an additional $2,114,297 for work outside of Illinois. Read the full financial summary of the Illinois Chapter for FY09.
Great Places Network
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Photo credits (left to right, top to bottom): Nachusa Grasslands Preserve © Lloyd DeGrane; spiderwort at Nachusa Grasslands Preserve © Lloyd DeGrane; James Otis, Jr. and Leslee Spraggins at Nachusa Grasslands Preserve, Illinois © Lloyd DeGrane; Mike Ward and Jeff Walk conducting a survey through restored prairie near Urbana, Champaign County, Illinois © Jill Deppe; Dickcissel at Nachusa Grasslands Preserve, Illinois © Lloyd DeGrane; Bill Kleinman giving tour of wetland area at Nachusa Grasslands Preserve, Illinois © Lloyd DeGrane; Three barges in Pool 8 of the Mississippi River at LaCrosse, Wisconsin © Robert J. Hurt; Tharran Hobson, Illinois River Restoration Manager with The Nature Conservancy © TNC; Illinois River © Doug Blodgett/TNC; Harvest time at Franklin demonstration farm in the Mackinaw River watershed, Lexington, Illinois © Timothy T. Lindenbaum/TNC; Board of Trustees at Nachusa Grassland Preserve, Illinois © Lloyd DeGrane
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