IDNR invests nearly $700,000 in statewide habitat restoration: local projects to benefit

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has awarded $697,816 in grants to support stewardship work on protected sites statewide, backing projects such as prescribed burns, invasive-species removal and seed‑processing upgrades. These investments target on-the-ground actions that strengthen habitat resilience and expand local capacity to care for nature preserves.

The awards fund 13 projects managed by land trusts at sites protected through the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission. Several organizations received more than one award; grants come from the state’s Natural Areas Stewardship Grant Program, which helps land trusts hire staff, buy equipment and contract work needed for habitat restoration.

Key grants announced by the department include:

• $99,890 – Prairie Hills Resource Conservation and Development (McDonough County): Support for staff, equipment and contractors to carry out prescribed fire, removal of woody species and control of invasive plants across multiple reserves and preserves.
• $98,340.46 – Parklands Foundation (Woodford County): Equipment purchases and contracted services to remove invasives, run prescribed burns and expand stewardship capacity at several land‑and‑water reserves and nature preserves.
• $85,803.10 – Grand Prairie Friends (Coles County): Funding for personnel, tools and supplies to implement prescribed fire and invasive‑species control at a cluster of protected sites.
• $71,126 – Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation (Jo Daviess County): Staff time, equipment and materials for invasive‑species removal, native reseeding and to expand on-site seed processing and propagation at Wapello Land and Water Reserve.
• $59,608.50 – Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves (Cook County): Tools and equipment to boost volunteer stewardship capacity and contracted invasive‑species work at Superior Street Land and Water Reserve and Old Plank Road Prairie Nature Preserve.
• $57,286.34 – The Wetlands Initiative (Putnam County): Funding for staff, supplies and contractors to tackle invasive plants, reduce woody encroachment and improve habitat connectivity at the Sandy Hollow Buffer Addition to the Thomas W. and Elizabeth Moews Dore Seep Nature Preserve.
• $43,174 – Citizens for Conservation (Lake County): Equipment to support invasive‑species removal and implementation of prescribed burns at Barrington Bog and Farm Trails North nature preserves.
• $38,583.33 – Heartlands Conservancy (Monroe County): Staff time, tools and supplies for installing firebreaks, curbing invasive plants and reducing woody encroachment at Trout Hollow Hill Prairie Nature Preserve.
• $29,082.31 – Pheasants Forever (Knox County): Equipment and materials to expand prescribed‑fire capability followed by reseeding at Forever Fields Land and Water Reserve.
• $27,350 – The Nature Conservancy (Cook County): Equipment to scale up processing of locally sourced native seed for use at multiple prairie preserves and nature sites.
• $24,872.25 – Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves (Lake County): Tools and equipment to strengthen volunteer stewardship at Florsheim Park and Morton Grove Prairie nature preserves.
• $22,600 – Land Conservancy of McHenry County (McHenry County): Contracted invasive‑species control and habitat expansion work at Yonder Prairie Nature Preserve.
• $20,100 – The Nature Conservancy (Cook County): A trailer purchase to improve safety and efficiency for stewardship operations at Nachusa Grassland and associated reserves.
• $20,000 – Natural Land Institute (Winnebago County): Contractual support aimed at reducing aggressive woody encroachment at Lost Flora Fen on Raccoon Creek Nature Preserve.

The grant program has a long track record: since 2001 it has provided more than $4.3 million to conservation land trusts across Illinois. Funds are typically used for activities such as invasive species control, prescribed fire, restoration of native communities and purchases of equipment needed for stewardship.

Eligibility for these grants is limited to conservation land trusts that hold tax‑exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) and whose founding documents list restoration, stewardship or conservation of land for native plants, animals, important biotic communities, or geologic or archaeological sites as part of their mission.

For residents and local volunteers, the awards translate into more organized stewardship events, safer and better-equipped crews for prescribed burns, and improved habitat for native species—work that can influence biodiversity and the long‑term health of Illinois’ protected landscapes.