The litany of grim environmental statistics can be overwhelming: All of the world’s rainforests and 70 percent of coral reefs could disappear by 2050, if current trends continue. Climate change threatens to wipe out one-quarter of the planet’s species. More than 1 billion people lack ready access to freshwater. Crop land is shrinking by nearly 37,000 square miles a year due to soil erosion.

The Earth’s habitats face serious threats and current trends suggest further degradation. Yet there is hope.

In its 50-year history, The Nature Conservancy in Illinois has preserved nearly 80,000 acres across the state, protecting grasslands, forest and fresh water systems. Around the world, the Conservancy has protected more than 117 million acres of land and 5,000 miles of river and operates more than 100 marine projects.

Much work needs to be done to achieve a future that is sustainable for people and plants and animals. With that in mind, the Conservancy has set a goal of working with partners to protect 10 percent of all habitat types on earth by 2015—forests, grasslands, deserts, rivers and lakes, and oceans. That is the equivalent of doubling the lands and waters currently protected.

Achieving that goal will require smart deployment of a host of strategies and techniques including land acquisition, restoration and stewardship; conservation easements; innovative public-private partnerships and public policy influence. All driven by sound science and a collaborative, non-confrontational spirit.

What the Nature Conservancy is Doing.

Close to home and in 34 countries spanning five continents, the Conservancy is working to preserve and protect the lands and waters all life depends on for survival. Here are just a few examples:

• Just south of Peoria along the Illinois River, the Conservancy is working with partners to restore the Emiquon Preserve, at 7,000 acres one of the largest wetland restoration project in the United States outside of the Florida Everglades. This year, staff and volunteers are planting 1,400 acres of wetland, bottomland forest, tall grass prairie, wet prairie and upland forest habitat..
• The Conservancy is joining with farmers and affiliate groups such as the Iowa Soybean Association to develop and test ways to reduce the influx of nutrients and sediments that flow into tributaries of the Mississippi River, and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico. This contributes to a large dead zone in the Gulf, where marine life cannot survive because of low oxygen levels.
• In Southeast Asia, The Nature Conservancy and partners are working to transform marine conservation in the Coral Triangle, a global center of marine biodiversity, by establishing large-scale networks of marine protected areas (MPAs) that can survive global change and human threats. Besides protecting biodiversity, MPAs provide benefits for commercial fisheries and for nature-based tourism.

Action starts when people talk.

In the midst of dire warnings about habitat destruction and species decline, there are reasons for hope and things we can do as individuals. First, start a conversation about the issue with friends, family and colleagues. Take a look at our Conversation Starters related to habit preservation for relevant and compelling facts. And, learn more about our habitat preservation efforts in Illinois and around the world by exploring the Conservancy’s web site, nature.org.