OPENLANDS
25 E WASHINGTON ST NO 1650, CHICAGO, IL 606021708 www.openlands.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: OPENLANDS PROTECTS THE NATURAL AND OPEN SPACES OF NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS AND THE SURROUNDING REGION TO ENSURE CLEANER AIR AND WATER, PROTECT NATURAL HABITATS AND WILDLIFE, AND HELP BALANCE AND ENRICH OUR LIVES.OPENLANDS' VISION FOR THE REGION IS A LANDSCAPE THAT INCLUDES A VAST NETWORK OF LAND AND WATER TRAILS, TREE-LINED STREETS, AND INTIMATE PUBLIC GARDENS WITHIN EASY REACH OF EVERY CITY DWELLER. IT ALSO INCLUDES PARKS AND PRESERVES BIG ENOUGH TO PROVIDE NATURAL HABITAT AND TO GIVE VISITORS A SENSE OF THE VAST PRAIRIES, WOODLANDS, AND WETLANDS THAT WERE HERE BEFORE THE CITIES. IN SUM, OPENLANDS BELIEVES THAT PROTECTED OPEN SPACE IS CRITICAL FOR THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR REGION.

OPENLANDS PROTECTS THE NATURAL AND OPEN SPACES OF NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS AND THE SURROUNDING REGION TO ENSURE CLEANER AIR AND WATER, PROTECT NATURAL HABITATS AND WILDLIFE, AND HELP BALANCE AND ENRICH OUR LIVES.

WETLAND RESTORATION - OPENLANDS MANAGES PROGRAMS TOGETHER WITH ITS PARTNERS TO ENSURE THE ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION OF WETLANDS AIMED TO PROMOTE THE DIVERSITY AND BEAUTY OF THESE NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS THROUGH ACQUISITION, CREATION, RESTORATION, AND ENHANCEMENT. OPENLANDS IS STEWARDING THE CARE OF SIX SITES IN THE DES PLAINES RIVER WATERSHED THAT SPANS OVER 1,500 ACRES.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT - WORKSHOP SERIES AIMED AT GIVING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO CPS EDUCATORS WHO WERE INTERESTED IN TEACHING CLIMATE CHANGE CURRICULUM, WAS ALSO RUN IN 2020. 20 TEACHERS PARTICIPATED IN 3 SEPARATE WORKSHOPS THAT ADDRESSED UNDERSTANDING AND IMPLEMENTING CLIMATE CHANGE LESSONS IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. EDUCATION WORKSHOPS IN OUR BSG PROGRAM SUPPORTED 30 SCHOOLS WITH 154 ATTENDEES. THROUGH OUR SPACE TO GROW PROGRAM, 2 NEW SCHOOLYARDS WERE CREATED TO ENRICH SCHOOL LANDSCAPES AND COMMUNITY GREENSPACE.THE COMED GREEN REGION GRANT PROGRAM AWARDED OVER $200,000 IN FUNDING TO 25 MUNICIPAL GROUPS IN OUR REGION. THESE PROJECTS FOCUSED ON POLLINATORS, LAND STEWARDSHIP, AND LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS AND WILL IMPACT UPWARDS OF 250,000 PEOPLE IN REGIONWIDE.OL FORESTRY PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE PLANTING OF TREES WITH COMMUNITY RESIDENTS ON PUBLIC LAND AND EDUCATES RESIDENTS IN THE CARE AND ADVOCACY AROUND THE URBAN FOREST. IN FY 20, 1230 TREEKEEPERS AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS WERE ENGAGED IN TREE PLANTINGS, CONTINUING EDUCATION, AND FIELD WORK TO CARE FOR TREES PLANTED IN PRIOR SEASONS.TREEKEEPERS LEARN HOW TO HELP KEEP TREES GREEN AND GROWING, VOLUNTEERING IN A VARIETY OF SITUATIONS FROM STREET TREE CARE AND TREE PLANTING TO WOODLAND STEWARDSHIP AND ADVOCACY. THEY ARE PASSIONATE AMBASSADORS WHO HELP EDUCATE THEIR NEIGHBORS AS WELL AS THEIR PUBLIC OFFICIALS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TREES FOR THE GREATER GOOD. IN FY 20, 164 NEW TREEKPEERS WERE TRAINED THROUGH THE OPENLANDS TREEKEEPERS COURSE.

LAND PRESERVATION - OPENLANDS SERVES AS AN ACCREDITED LAND TRUST BY APPLYING BEST PRACTICES IN LAND PROTECTION TRANSACTIONS. WE ARE INVOLVED IN LAND ACQUISITION AND PLANNING THROUGH BUILDING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, ENGAGING ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUYING PARCELS OF LAND, AND SUPPORTING OVERALL PLANNING EFFORTS. WE PROVIDE A RANGE OF SERVICES SUCH AS MANAGING THE DUE DILIGENCE PROCESS, PROVIDING INTERIM FINANCING SOLUTIONS, AND SERVING AS A SHORT-TERM LAND OWNER. OUR WORK ALSO ENCOMPASSES PLACING CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON PURCHASED PROPERTY WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE HACKMATACK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE.

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