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Barrington group is protecting biodiversity in the suburbs

Did you know that monarch butterflies, bees, and oak trees are in peril? How can we help these plant and animal species grow?

In order for our ecosystem to survive and thrive, we need to provide space for wildlife habitats to grow, according to Lisa Woolford, executive director of the Barrington Area Conservation Trust.

“We conserve land to protect the biodiversity of our ecosystem. A healthy ecosystem reflects a healthy human environment,” she said.

We asked Woolford to share how her organization helps the environment.

Q: What is your organization's mission?

A: Our mission is to preserve the rare and exceptional open spaces in the Barrington area for future generations.

Q: How do you work toward accomplishing that goal?

A: Our primary tool for preserving open space is a legal agreement called a conservation easement. Private landowners place conservation protection on their land. This protection permanently limits the use of the land in order to protect its conservation values. The Trust has protected some extraordinary properties using this tool.

BACT also accepts land donations, and we own five nature preserves as well.

In addition to land preservation, BACT is committed to educating the public and inspiring future land stewards. We offer many programs that involve young people, including our Teens4Green youth advisory board, our summer internship program and our curriculum-based programs at Barrington High School.

We host environmental-related programs every month so that we can engage the community.

Q: Who does your organization serve?

A: Because of the inherent connectivity of nature, BACT serves everyone who lives in the Northwest suburbs. We are all a part of this vast environmental puzzle. What happens in your backyard impacts what happens in mine.

Open spaces provide homes to hundreds of species and unique ecosystems. Without open space, species become vulnerable and unable to survive. When we lose one species, we change biodiversity.

While most of our properties are located throughout Barrington, the impact we make on these lands affects everyone.

Q: When and why did your organization start? How has it grown?

A: BACT was established by a group of community and business leaders in 2001. We began above a garage. Our first conservation easement was completed in 2003 and is one of the largest conservation easements in Illinois, the preservation of Horizon Farms.

Since then, we have preserved numerous properties and developed the Heritage Corridor program to preserve scenic roadways. We also outgrew the garage. Our office is now located in the Barrington White House.

Q: What kind of successes have you had?

A: We have had many different types of successes this year.

In terms of land preservation, we have completed several new easements.

As for restoration, we have focused our efforts on our Far Field Preserve in Barrington Hills and restored it from a soybean farm back into an oak savanna. We are currently in the thick of restoring our Pederson Preserve.

This year we successfully launched a monarch way station initiative, where we provided 14 monarch habitats to nonprofits in the area and sold 20 others to residents.

We are also very excited about our active volunteer and programing programs. We currently have more than 350 volunteers. We are so grateful to our community for embracing and partnering with us.

Q: What are your challenges?

A: I think our biggest challenges are time and funding. I wish there were more hours in the day for us to do the restoration work that we want to accomplish on our properties.

As for funding, BACT relies on the financial support of grants and private funding. We are constantly looking for new revenue streams that will allow us to achieve our goals.

Q: How can community members get involved with BACT?

A: Contact us! We love our volunteers. Please reach out to Emily@bactrust.org for questions as to how you can join us.

If you are interested in learning more about an easement, contact lisa@bactrust.org.

And, from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, BACT is hosting its major fundraiser, Concert for Conservation at Under the Tall Oaks in Barrington Hills. The event is a Ravinia-style picnic with the fabulous Don Cagen Orchestra.

New this year, we are adding a Countryside Toodle Rally, where concert attendees can take a leisurely drive down country roads, past picturesque properties that the BACT has worked so hard to protect. Go online for tickets at www.bactrust.org or call (847) 387-3149 for information.

Volunteering gives sense of purpose, self-worth

Easement granted to rare gravel prairie

  Lisa Woolford, executive director of the Barrington Area Conservation Trust, standing in Pederson Preserve. Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com
  Blazing star growing in the Barrington Area Conservation Trust's Pederson Preserve in Barrington. Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com
  A bumble bee hovers over a native coneflower in Barrington Area Conservation Trust's Pederson Preserve in Barrington. Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com
  A Monarch butterfly hovers over a native coneflower in Barrington Area Conservation Trust's Pederson Preserve in Barrington. Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com

Concert for Conservation

What: Barrington Area Conservation Trust's major fundraiser

When: 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26

Where: Barrington Hills

Details: Ravinia-style picnic (bring your own food) with Pat McKillen, local singer and songwriter, followed by the Don Cagen Orchestra

New this year: Countryside Toodle Rally, a leisurely country drive past picturesque properties that the BACT has worked to protect

Tickets: $85; free for those younger than 18 at <a href="http://www.bactrust.org">www.bactrust.org</a>

Details: (847) 387-3149

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