Public needs education on land management
I saw a letter about the DuPage Forest Preserve that used words such as "demolition" and "destruction." It seems every generation must learn the same lessons about natural area restoration and management of forest preserve lands.
At one time, prescribed prairie burns were considered a grave threat to wildlife and should not be allowed. In the 1990s, there was much hand-wringing (and letter writing) that the "forest preserves are cutting down the forests" when conservation agencies began to remove non-native vegetation. Now, a few people are in dismay about a big project to remove a dam, re-establish natural meanders to a channelized wetland and restore native vegetation.
This project sounds like a wonderful, progressive way to improve a local ecosystem; maybe the forest preserve needs to step up their education to help people understand this.
The protection and management of public-owned natural areas is a huge responsibility. The citizens of DuPage County should feel fortunate the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County seems to be very good at it.
Jack MacRae
Naperville