The Nature Conservancy Receives Grant from the Grand Victoria Foundation

June 19, 2007 —

WHAT: The Grand Victoria Foundation awarded a $356,400 grant to The Nature Conservancy for the acquisition of 86.5 acres of a former prairie site adjacent to the Nachusa Grasslands Preserve.

This land will help the Conservancy to continue to enhance its wildlife connection between the Conservancy’s Nachusa Grasslands and nearby public preserves including Lowden Miller State Forest and Franklin Creek State Natural Area that are managed by the Department of Natural Resources. In addition, the acquisition will increase the size and ability of the Preserve to support numerous plants and animals, including a host of species listed as state and federally endangered.

WHY: Protection and future restoration of this tract will add to statewide efforts to improve habitat for grassland birds, which are in precipitous decline across North America due to habitat loss. As one of the largest prairies remaining in Illinois at 2,500 acres, the Nachusa Grasslands Preserve supports more than 180 species of birds, including Henslow’s sparrows, grasshopper sparrows, dickcissels, northern bobwhites, orchard orioles, field sparrows, and bobolinks. Nachusa Grasslands is the only preserve in Illinois where bobolinks will nest in restored prairie.

This land acquisition also contributes to increased learning and volunteer opportunities. In 2007, the Nachusa Grasslands Preserve staff has hosted multiple meetings for natural resource managers from around the country, serving as a demonstration of best practices for prairie restoration in Illinois. Nachusa Grasslands also boasts a vigorous volunteer program with nearly 100 members.

WHERE: Nachusa Grasslands is located in Franklin Grove, Illinois.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.