Grand Prairie Friends has been awarded nearly $86,000 through the Illinois Natural Areas Stewardship Grant Program, administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). The funding will support critical stewardship efforts across Grand Prairie Friends’ Warbler Ridge Conservation Area. Located in Coles County (IL), the preserve protects more than 1,500 acres of forest ridges and ravines along 14 river-miles of the Embarras River in Charleston. The grant will p

Originally published by IEC Empowering environmental champions in Illinois’ General Assembly requires building strong relationships with our legislators. These educational tours are a critical piece of that work. We share great experiences with our legislators and partners. We even took a record number of tours by canoe this year! From forest preserves in Cook County to farms in southern Illinois, Illinoisans are demonstrating environmental stewardship is alive and well. Read

By Anika Wadhwa, Staff Writer • Apr 9, 2026 Originally published in The Daily Illini A volunteer works at the Edna Edwards Burnett Land and Water Reserve August 2024. In central Illinois, a vast land known as the Grand Prairie once stretched across the region. It was incredibly diverse, home to hundreds of species of plants, mammals, birds and insects for thousands of years. As settlers arrived, much of the land was lost to plowing and converted into farm fields. Today, less

Nonprofit conservation land trust, Grand Prairie Friends, has accepted perpetual ownership of two nature preserves in the (IL) Wabash Valley region from The Nature Conservancy. The transfer of Rocky Branch Nature Preserve (Marshall, IL) and Baber Woods Nature Preserve (Clarksville, IL) to Grand Prairie Friends reflects a shared commitment to keeping high-quality habitats in dedicated conservation ownership, with a focus on strong local management and community connection. Bo