Invasive plants topic of meeting
Learn why Illinois is 10 to 15 years ahead of everyone else in protecting, creating and restoring natural environments, according to Jack Pizzo, president of Pizzo and Associates. He will be the guest speaker at the Conservation Foundation's winter membership and awards luncheon.
The event will be from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Fishermen's Inn in Elburn. It will feature the presentation of the Paul Butler Memorial Award and the Sustainable Development Awards.
Pizzo will focus on "Costly Invaders," invasive plant species that readily establish themselves in a new habitat and threaten or eliminate the ability for native species to thrive. Restoring the natural habitats damaged by invasive species costs the United States more than $125 billion a year. Pizzo will explain the reason for the pervasiveness of these plants, and provide examples of successful restoration techniques and projects throughout the Midwest, including the use of native plants.
Pizzo and Associates, Ltd., based in Leland, Ill., specializes in ecological restoration -- working with developers and land owners to return degraded environments to their natural states. The company recently received 11 2008 Excellence in Landscape Awards from the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association.
"Incorporating native plants into landscaping is one of the best ways home and business owners can demonstrate their commitment to the environment," said Brook McDonald, president and CEO of The Conservation Foundation. "It's a win-win, because using natives will also save time and money."
The Paul Butler Memorial Award is presented annually by the Conservation Foundation to an outstanding volunteer. The Sustainable Development Awards recognize developers, businesses, landowners and communities that promote excellence in environmental stewardship.
Reservations for the luncheon can be made by contacting the Foundation at (630) 428-4500, ext. 10 or at cthompson@theconservationfoundation.org.
Tickets are $35 per person for members or $50 for non-members, which includes a one-year membership.
The foundation is a nonprofit land and watershed protection organization. Established in 1972 by business and community leaders, the Foundation is dedicated to preserving open space and natural lands, protecting rivers and watersheds, and promoting stewardship of the environment in northeast Illinois. Working closely with citizens, elected officials, developers, land use planners, park districts, and forest preserves, the foundation has contributed to the protection of more than 30,000 acres of open space lands in northeast Illinois. The foundation is headquartered at the 60-acre McDonald Farm in Naperville, with a program office located at the historic Dickson-Murst Farm in Montgomery, Ill.
For information or to become a member, visit www.theconservationfoundation.org or call (630) 428-4500.