Natural Land Institute

“Circulated during the first board meeting after completing, posted on nli website”

“Natural land institute monitors and enforces compliance with the conflict of interest policy by requiring all officers, trustees, and committee members to sign an annual statement agreeing that they have received and read the policy and will comply with the terms. Any person with a perceived or actual conflict of interest shall leave the meeting during the discussion of, and the vote on, the transaction or arrangement involving the possible conflict of interest.”

“Compensation is compared with local non-profits and the national land trust alliance”

“Compensation is compared with local non-profits and the national land trust alliance”

“Natural land institute makes its financial statements available to the public on their website. It provides its governing documents and conflict of interest policy upon request.”

“4a: land preservation - protect natural areas through acquisition or conservation easements. Nli purchased three parcels comprising 535 acres in 2024, starting with the 327-acre busse prairie preserve which closed on september 16, followed by the 80-acre blackhawk kennel tract on december 13 and 128-acre oxbow springs at the tail end of the year on december 30. The busse prairie preserve acquisition improves our protection of the raccoon creek corridor, a biodiversity hotspot in the county with lots of remnant grasslands along this meandering stream. According to our founders father, egbert fell (in his flora of winnebago county) it was the last place for prairie chickens in the county. We doubt they will ever return but we most certainly are successful with enhancing habitat for other grassland birds. Oxbow springs and the blackhawk kennel are acquisitions along the doty creek corridor, and added to nlis pecatonica ridge prairie, protect remnants of a major slough (grass wetland) delineated on the 1843 original land survey of pecatonica township. More than 200 acres were added to regional state parks: nli sold 55-acre white wood ridge to the illinois department of natural resources (idnr) so that it could add it to mississippi palisades state park on june 3rd and 149-acre townsend glade to the idnr to add to apple river canyon state park on october 29th. More than 200 acres of private lands were placed into conservation easements so that these lands remain as conservation lands in perpetuity. This included the 77-acre handel and 77-acre miller lands in carroll county; the 28-acre langoussis land in winnebago county and the 35-acre pecatonica stream mitigation bank in stephenson county. 4b: nygren wetland preserve - restoration of 721-acre preserve at the confluence of the rock and pecatonica rivers. Nygren is a birding hotspot supported by cornell laboratory of ornithologys e-bird data. If you are on facebook, join our birders of nygren wetland preserve to see daily images from visitors and photographers to the site who generously share a wealth of images of what they encounter. Wander at the wetland: full moon snowshoe & hike was held on feb. 22 at nygren wetland preserve to showcase the winter landscape. Party on the prairie, a fundraiser for nygren wetland preserve and held there on july 20. This is an outdoor gala that showcases the work we do while providing an opportunity for guests to enjoy dinner overlooking the prairie. Fall prairie harvest day, a seed collection event, was held on october 5 at nygren wetland. Family nature adventures was held at nygren wetland preserve in rockton on june 22. Inviting families to participate in a variety of topics gave them a chance to discover nature in a personal way as they examined things like acorns and leaves at the woodlands station, birch baskets (and learned how native americans used them), crayfish and water bugs at the wetlands station, or petted a coyote pelt at the mammals station, learned how to draw birds and how to write about how they feel while exploring outside. Other experiences brought joy to the faces of those who attended family nature event. Family nature adventures inspires the next generation to protect the natural world. Learning to understand nature and falling in love with it will lead to wanting to protect it. Hononegah high school brought nearly 300 freshmen biology students to nygren wetland preserve on oct. 8 and 9 to do an environmental field study. 4c: restoration and management of preserves land stewardship staff and volunteers managed preserves by removing invasive species in prairies, wetlands and woodlands, conducted prescribed burns, planted trees and native wildflowers and grasses, and monitored wildlife such as dragonflies and damselflies, turtles, mussels, and birds. Volunteer land stewardship workdays were held at lost flora fen on raccoon creek, lind-mcgeachie preserve, silver creek woods preserve, william & gayle keefer nature reserve, an”

“See previous description for 4d”

“Contractual services 146,529 0 0”

“ROUNDING 1”