Fell’s regional conservation organisation
After his early work with The Nature Conservancy, George B. Fell founded the Natural Land Institute in 1958 and served as executive director until his death in 1994. The member-supported nonprofit concentrated on identifiable natural areas in northern Illinois, combining their protection with continuing management.
How the land trust works
NLI accepts donated property, purchases land and helps owners establish conservation agreements limiting harmful uses and development. Its programmes also include restoring natural areas and native species. Prairies, forests, wetlands and river corridors consequently require attention beyond the transaction that initially protects a site.
References: [1]
Acquisition and cooperation
Its history includes negotiations involving Harlem Hills, Rockton, Sugar River tracts and Nachusa Grasslands. Acquisitions have been pursued both independently and with other organisations and public agencies. Helping secure a protected area can involve negotiation and coordination without implying that NLI alone owns every site associated with its work.
References: [1]
Research, information and public support
The institute identifies research and information management, conservation education, and public policy and planning among its main programmes. Together with acquisition and stewardship, these activities gave Fell’s natural-area protection work an enduring regional organisational base.
References: [1]