Chicago's wild spaces are crying out for help from every friend of
nature in Chicago! Our extraordinary natural areas, which were set aside
almost a century ago to be public forest preserves and parks, are being
seriously threatened by invasive species.
Did you know that almost no baby oak trees have been growing in our
local woods and savannas over the past few decades? Many of the older
parent oaks are reaching the end of their lifespan, but most of their
offspring are choked out by invasive shrubs like the European buckthorn.
Invasive shrubs like buckthorn have no natural competitors in Chicago's
landscape, so they grow out of control, robbing our native woodlands and
prairies of nutrients, water and sunlight. This leaves "buckthorn
deserts" in place of wildlife-filled diverse native ecosystems. The
native woodland ground layer of wildflowers and grasses and baby oaks
trees cannot survive and quickly die out, leaving the soil bare and
extremely susceptible to erosion.
Fortunately, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County has been
working with scientists, local officials and an army of dedicated
volunteers for more than 30 years to run an ecological land management
program that has saved thousands of acres of forest preserves from the
brink of destruction due to invasive shrubs and trees. The District
cares for our public lands using a range of science-based,
nationally-accepted best management practices to restore and maintain
the original balance within these native ecosystems.
One of the most efficient and cost-effective land management practices
employed by the District - and all of its surrounding sister county
forest preserve districts - is the reintroduction of one of the natural
processes that originally shaped this landscape for thousands of years
before European settlers arrived 200 years ago: fire.
Carefully planned and controlled ecological burning of prairies and
woodlands recreates Mother Nature's natural cycle of spring cleaning:
controlled burning clears harmful brush, letting in sunlight and
recycling nutrients back into the soil. Some native plant seeds actually
need to go through a burn to germinate!
What's interesting is that while forest preserves need controlled burns
to survive, the controlled burning needs support from citizens to
survive!
Controlled burns and brushpile burning are essential tools for fighting the invasive plant species that are slowly strangling our forest preserves. They are crucial for the survival of the extraordinary refuges of rich plant and animal life in northwest Chicago that are already being choked out by invasives like the European buckthorn shrub. Why care? See the end of this message for more of the story.
Opposition to science-based ecological restoration is getting worse. Last year, the three aldermen above proposed an ordinance to ban burning in forest preserves within the City of Chicago. Experts were brought in to communicate the importance of sound management to restoration opponents, but unfortunately, the opposition has not gone away; in fact, it's only getting worse.
Please join Friends of the Parks, along with members of the Illinois
Chapter of the Sierra Club, the Friends of the Forest Preserves, Audubon
- Chicago Region and Openlands in educate our neighbors, churches, aldermen and other community leaders about the importance and
carefully controlled management of fire in natural areas, and the
enormous benefits that healthy forest preserves have to offer each
citizen of Chicago.
If you live in the 39th, 41st, or 45th wards we urge you to please call your Alderman today and say:
"I support ecological restoration for our local preserves."
39th Ward: Alderman Margaret Laurino
4404 West Lawrence Avenue
Chicago, IL 60630
773-736-5594
41st Ward: Alderman Brian G. Doherty
6650 N.Northwest Highway
Chicago, IL 60631
312-744-3208/744-3942
45th Ward: Alderman Patrick J. Levar
5205 N. Milwaukee, Suite 100
Chicago, IL 60630
773-545-2545
What can you do:
Contact your alderman. Your call or e-mail counts! Important people will be watching the number of calls from ward residents very carefully. The more calls, the safer the woods will be. Please contact the Committee on members listed below to voice your opposition for this ordinance.
Committee on Energy, Environmental Protection and Public Utilities
The Committee on Energy, Environmental Protection and Public Utilities has jurisdiction over all orders, ordinances and resolutions relating to the abatement of air, water and noise pollution; solid waste collection and disposal; recycling and reuse of wastes; conservation of natural resources; and with all other matters not specifically included dealing with the improvement of the quality of the environment and the conservation of energy.
CHAIR |
5th Ward: Leslie Hairston |
23rd Ward: Michael R. Zalewski |
VICE CHAIR |
9th Ward: Anthony Beale |
26th Ward: Billy Ocasio |
1st Ward: Manuel Flores |
10th Ward: John A. Pope |
34th Ward: Carrie M. Austin |
2nd Ward: Robert Fioretti |
14th Ward: Edward M. Burke |
49th Ward: Joe Moore |
4th Ward: Toni Preckwinkle |
16th Ward: JoAnn Thompson |
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Committee on Parks and Recreation
(The Committee on Parks and Recreation has jurisdiction over all matters relating to the park system within the City, all matters generally affecting the Chicago Park District and all matters relating to the provision of recreational facilities within the City and shall work with those agencies, both public and private, that are similarly engaged.)
CHAIR |
5th Ward: Leslie Hairston |
22nd Ward: Richardo Munoz |
VICE CHAIR |
15th Ward: Toni Foulkes |
37th Ward: Emma Mitts |
1st Ward: Manuel Flores |
16th Ward: JoAnn Thompson |
43rd Ward: Vi Daley |
4th Ward: Toni Preckwinkle |
18th Ward: Lona Lane |
47th Ward: Eugene Schulter |
6th Ward: Freddrenna Lyle |
20th Ward: Willie Cochran |
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Talk to you neighbors. Many people take our natural areas for granted. Inform your neighbors of what is going on in the parks and forest preserves and how it is necessary to preserve Chicago’s wilderness.
Come to the next forest preserve workday in these wards.
Visit http://www.northbranchrestoration.org/calendar.html# for time and directions.
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