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Friends of the Forest Preserves is a non-profit environmental organization located in Cook County Illinois. We advocate for the preserves and provide oversight for the District that is charged with preserving, protecting, and restoring them. Our initiatives include policy work, volunteer and constituency organizing, and coordinating resources to benefit the preserves. Our volunteer Board of Directors is composed of individuals from different backgrounds who share a passion for the forest preserves. The Board, guided by the mission, works with the staff to determine the direction of the organization Friends has brought together picnic grove users, bikers, horseback riders, birders, boaters, ecological management volunteers and many others to advocate for good management and conservation practices. Mission -- Vision
Statement-- History
-- What's at Stake -- What
Friends Does Friends of the Forest Preserves works to preserve, protect, and restore the Forest Preserves of Cook County for the benefit of people and nature. Friends of the Forest Preserves ensures that the Forest Preserves of Cook County are healthy ecosystems for natural flora and fauna. We serve as a friend to the Forest Preserve District, helping it to be a model for metropolitan conservation. We foster all constituencies throughout the County that value and enjoy the forest preserves for education, pleasure, and recreation. Friends of the Forest Preserves began in 1998 as a direct response to two specific events: the District sold non-surplus land for the first time in its 85-year history and also placed a moratorium on ecological management performed by staff and volunteers in the forest preserves. Volunteer stewards and recreational users of the preserves needed advocates who could represent their interests on the political front and ensure that the District adhered to its mission which is:
In 2002 Friends teamed up with the Friends of the Parks, The National Audubon Society, and The Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club to conduct and release a two-part comprehensive study on the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. This study was released to both the media and Commissioners,. It presented the initial objectives of the founders of the forest preserves, exposed the recent corruption of the District governance and suggested ways to improve the situation. The study's publication placed public pressure on the District, leading to the election of several reform-minded Commissions to the District board. A new General Superintendent was appointed in 2003. In 2004, Friends board decided to further strengthen their role to influence the environmental decisions taken by the District by acquiring non-profit 501(c)(3) status and hiring its first staff member, Executive Director Benjamin Cox. Today with a staff of three and a growing membership, Friends of the Forest Preserves is a strong advocate for our county's natural lands. Ecosystem- The forest preserves encompass 68,000 acres of natural lands – from woodlands and prairies to wetlands. Much of this land is in good condition, but much has been degraded by misuse and invasive species. Large areas of forest have turned into impassable thorn scrub and original prairies, thousands of years old, have been blotted out by brush. The scientific consensus is that land under such circumstances has to be actively managed in order to preserve its natural biodiversity. The District’s land management program has not kept pace with the need for restoration work and the preserves have suffered accordingly. 68% of the land is now in ecologically poor condition, and could only be restored at great expense. We must act now to save the remaining 32% from similar degradation. Animals- A healthy natural ecosystem is rich with animals -- birds and fish, reptiles and amphibians, and invertebrates and mammals. In this major metropolitan area some of the animals need special protection. In other cases people and the natural ecosystem itself need more protection - from diseased or overpopulated animals. We support the use of more District resources for wise animal conservation programs. Trails, Safety and Maintenance- With more than 300 miles of trails, the Forest Preserve District has much to be proud of. However many of the trails have been damaged by washouts. Trail users, such as horseback riders, hikers and bikers have responded to this issue by forming volunteer groups to maintain and expand trails. Some areas of the preserves are unsafe and need policing. Others have suffered the effects of littering and garbage dumping. We work with District staff to resolve the problems that confront forest preserve users. A healthy ecosystem is not just a beautiful place to visit. It also provides carbon storage, decreases water runoff and soil erosion, and improves air and water quality. . We must enjoy our forest preserves, protect them and and increase public appreciation of these wonderful resources What Friends of the Forest Preserves does:
Carl M. Birkelbach – President Jay Readey – Treasurer Margaret Frisbie – Secretary Barbara Birmingham – Board Member Rosalyn Ford – Board Member Barbara Hill – Board Member Jeremy Hojnicki – Board Member Keith Holt – Board Member Stephen Packard – Board Member Stephen J. Schlegel – Board Member John Sheerin – Board Member Ginger Underwood – Board Member Foundations Corporations |
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