Illinois: Connected By Nature

To keep global warming in check, the world needs to shift quickly from fossil fuels to renewable energy. However, we must pay attention to how and where clean energy projects are built to ensure that the new infrastructure does not result in unnecessary harm to native species and natural landscapes.

Energy planning that considers the big picture can help prevent many impacts to nature, while also optimizing outcomes for people and climate. Smart renewable deployment takes advantage of building on degraded and marginal lands, like abandoned mines or landfills, in lieu of developing on natural habitats or productive farmlands.

TNC’s approach encourages stakeholders to consider the long-term impacts of proposed renewable energy projects on people, economies, biodiversity, and carbon emissions.

With support from donors, TNC is pursuing three avenues to increase adoption of the 3C approach:

1. Providing foundational insights. We are developing guidance and tools to help energy planners and developers adopt the 3Cs.
2. Influencing key decision-makers. We regularly meet with legislators, state agencies, energy developers and businesses to encourage them to consider nature and people in the renewable buildout.
3. Convening partners and pilot projects. With our partners, we are pursuing pilots of solar and wind projects that demonstrate 3C principles.

CONSERVATION BENEFITS

TNC has much to learn about living reciprocally with the land from Indigenous Peoples, who were the original stewards of the Americas. One lesson is the important role that buffalo play in restoring grasslands. With their grazing and other natural behaviors, buffalo are creating critical habitats that support all prairie wildlife. For example, by selectively eating grasses, buffalo balance the prairie ecosystem for wildflowers to thrive, which also creates a heterogeneous structure ideal for nesting spots for grassland birds. And when buffalo wallow (roll) on the ground, they create depressions that fill with rainwater, providing pools for breeding amphibians.  

REMATRIATION OF BUFFALO

Every spring brings new buffalo calves to TNC preserves. By transferring buffalo to Indigenous communities, we maintain adequate size herds that, in return, maintain the ecological health of our preserves. Most important, we are playing a supportive role in repairing the relationship between buffalo and Indigenous Peoples that was severed by colonization and the ensuing violence against Native Americans and buffalo. “It’s healing to see these animals come back and be a part of us again,” says Baldes. “It’s bringing home our long-lost relative.”

Spending time outdoors provides a bevy of health benefits. Even a 10-minute nature dose has been shown to improve blood pressure and lower stress. In Chicago, TNC has been working to ensure that city dwellers of all races, ethnicities, ages, abilities and income levels have access to green spaces and outdoor activities. A new endeavor adds to our cities work. TNC was recently selected to lead the Outdoor Foundation’s Thrive Outside initiative in Chicago. The goal: To reduce barriers to the outdoors and increase meaningful outside opportunities for Chicago youth and adults, including people of color and LGBTQIA+ communities. 

Convening Expertise

As we launch Thrive Outside Chicago, TNC is following our well-practiced playbook and collaborating with partners that are already providing outdoor experiences to Chicagoans. Our steering committee includes a variety of local organizations, including groups that arrange outdoor adventures for underserved youth and a nonprofit that serves people with disabilities. “They know best what their communities need,” says TNC’s Brooke Thurau, conservation partnership and network specialist. “They will guide us in what Thrive Outside Chicago should look like and how we can best provide support.”

Righting Inequities

TNC will receive grants for three years from the Outdoor Foundation to build Thrive Outside Chicago. To sustain the program, TNC needs to raise a 1:1 funding match.

The money will be used to assist local organizations in providing outdoor experiences and to support Thrive Outside Chicago’s collective work, which is aimed at addressing inequities that impede Chicagoans from getting out in nature. For instance, our partners point to Chicago River access as a challenge. Walking or kayaking along the river is easy for many on the city’s northside, which has river trails and boat launches. But on the south and west sides, river access is difficult or impossible. Thrive Outside Chicago is working to address barriers like this and ensure that all Chicagoans can easily enjoy outdoor activities.