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Illinois
In 2024, TNC, our partners and supporters celebrated many tremendous conservation successes across the Midwest, proving that when we come together, great solutions are possible.
Jan 14, 2025
Positive achievements can—and are—happening right in your backyard. Dive into the conservation work bolstering people and nature in the Midwest.
Sep 24, 2024
Specially trained spaniels—aka turtle dogs—are helping researchers find and study elusive ornate box turtles.
Jul 02, 2024
9-minute read time
You don’t have to go far to experience all the benefits that time in nature gives you. No matter your interest, TNC has a wide variety of accessible preserves around the Midwest for you to explore.
Jun 17, 2024
Not only is diversity essential in nature, its vital to the work we do in conservation. This Pride Month, we're celebrating the diverse, LGBTQ+ individuals that help us thrive.
Jun 01, 2024
An Illinois summer isn't complete without cicadas. 2024 is an extra special year for these critters as two rare broods will be emerging simultaneously, and they're arriving earlier than expected.
May 22, 2024
6-minute read time
Discover how everyday conservation actions at home can make a big impact on pollinators and other insects in the Midwest and beyond.
May 08, 2024
The Nature Conservancy has made it a priority to use “good fire” to keep native habitats healthy.
Apr 01, 2024
From restoring the freshwaters that connect us all to bolstering the development of climate-resilient communities, 2023 was a tremendous year in conservation for TNC Illinois.
Mar 14, 2024
TNC’s Youth Environmental Thinkers (YET) is a summer internship program that encourages young people to consider how urban communities and nature are interconnected.
Mar 13, 2024
4-minute read time
Meet the women who are making an impact and leading the way in conservation throughout the Midwest.
From bustling prairies and serene rivers to lively wetlands and ancient forests, Illinois has a bounty of beautiful places to explore year-round.
8-minute read time
A new TNC report provides a pathway for Midwest businesses to attain greenhouse gas reduction targets—while lessening impacts on nature and people from the renewable buildout.
Oct 24, 2023
7-minute read time
Discover how The Nature Conservancy in Illinois is focused on urban conservation efforts that will protect nature in cities like Chicago.
Jun 13, 2023
The Nature Conservancy in Illinois is working to protect the lands and waters on which all life depends.
We all know the honeybees that pollinate our flowers in the Midwest. But did you know there are some other, shall we say, peculiar pollinators? Learn about the importance of lesser-known pollinators.
May 11, 2023
A long-term study on an Illinois farm shows that constructed wetlands can reduce excess nutrients in agricultural runoff by nearly 50%, a huge win for drinking water quality and wildlife habitat.
The Nature Conservancy’s Emiquon Preserve offers a variety of recreational activities, including limited waterfowl hunting opportunities, fishing, boating and more.
Wetlands support an incredible diversity of life. Yet they’re in danger: in some states, as much as 90% of wetlands have been destroyed.
Apr 21, 2022
Meet six Black leaders who are building community and making Chicago’s neighborhoods healthier, greener and more environmentally friendly.
Mar 31, 2022
Millions of migratory birds are using Nature Conservancy sites to “rest and refuel” as they cross Great Lakes states toward summer breeding grounds.
Mar 01, 2022
Climate change is taking a significant toll on the Great Lakes region. Learn how The Nature Conservancy is working to secure a resilient future in this region.
Jan 15, 2022
The Nature Conservancy spoke with Gina Ramirez and Olga Bautista, two of the city’s environmental justice leaders and Southeast Side residents, in 2021 about environmental racism.
Apr 21, 2021
Explore maps that illustrate the Mississippi River’s reach, our efforts to control it, and the impacts from its flooding on the people who live in its floodplain.
Mar 26, 2021
Climate change is a serious threat facing our planet today. In Illinois, The Nature Conservancy is finding solutions that help both people and nature thrive.
What you need to know about this noisy, natural wonder.
By Deborah Landau
Our climate is changing and, along with it, the habitats that plants and animals rely on to thrive. Learn about the iconic forests and scenic waterways that TNC is protecting in the Heartland.
Feb 11, 2021
The Nature Conservancy adds its voice to those urging the City to keep General Iron out of the Southeast side.
Jan 27, 2021
Winter in the Midwest provides an opportunity to provide birds with cover, food and water. In return, you might just get to see more birds in your yard!
Jan 25, 2021
The Imani Green Health Advocates program is bringing green jobs to Chicago's South Side.
Oct 28, 2020
Learn how The Nature Conservancy in Illinois is working to provide food and water sustainably across the state.
Former Illinois State Director Michelle Carr sat down with Mila Marshall for a conversation on race and the outdoors.
Jul 13, 2020
Meet the mighty tree species that clean our air, protect our water and provide habitat for the wildlife all around us!
Stormstore is an innovative stormwater trading option designed by The Nature Conservancy and partners to help reduce flooding in Cook County.
May 05, 2020
The Nature Conservancy is protecting the habitats that pollinators need to thrive, so we can enjoy the crucial benefits that they provide.
Apr 09, 2020
Backyard birding is a great way to connect with the nature all around you right from your own home. Get started with TNC's top 10 Backyard Bird list.
Apr 01, 2020
Last summer, endangered piping plovers mated in Chicago for the first time in 64 years. Here’s how volunteers made that possible.
By Kate Frazer | Feb 28, 2020
Do you have questions about the bison herd at Nachusa Grasslands? We've got answers!
Learn how The Nature Conservancy is protecting the once nearly extinct American bison across 12 preserves in the central United States.
Each year thousands of TNC volunteers plant, pull, guide, count, collect, monitor and otherwise help keep nature healthy and wild.
By Graham Averill | Jun 01, 2018
A partnership between The Nature Conservancy and the Chicago Park District is connecting Chicagoans with natural areas across the city.