"creation of a nature preserve on the Palisades overlooking the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers.
... the foundation [Clark Community College Foundation], the Great Rivers Land Trust, The Conservation Fund, Adams Development Co. and the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center will announce the creation of The Palisades Preserve, 430 acres of bluffs and forests overlooking the confluence... "The Palisades Preserve is the largest and most significant privately owned undeveloped property in the region," said Alley Ringhausen, executive director of the Great Rivers Land Trust. "... the support of The Conservation Fund, the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, Lewis and Clark Community College Foundation, National Great Rivers Research and Education Center and other... supporters..." The property is... essential to the protection of endangered or threatened species of plants... including... Eastern prairie fringed orchid [Platanthera leucophaea]... The forests of the property contain undisturbed areas reflective of pre-settlement forest, of which less than one-tenth of 1 percent survives today in Illinois. The Conservation Fund, a national conservation organization, facilitated the land trust's landmark acquisition with a loan from its Mississippi River Revolving Fund. As part of the Palisades Preserve Partnership Project, Great Rivers Land Trust has launched a fund-raising program to repay the loan. To date, two private foundations have pledged... gifts, and several St. Louis-based corporate foundations also have expressed interest in providing support. "The Conservation Fund's Mississippi River Revolving Fund was established with support from The McKnight Foundation to help local organizations protect sensitive natural areas along our nation's greatest river," said Tom Duffus of the fund... The Conservation Fund and Great Rivers Land Trust negotiated the acquisition of the property with Adams Development. Though it was owned privately, the Palisades long has been a draw for travelers along the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway. "The Palisades Preserve is an ecological treasure for our region," said Scott Adams, president of Adams Development. "The preservation of this land has allowed the great forest along the bluffs to remain connected and un-fragmented. Stewarding this property has been a labor of love for the Adams Development Company for the past 40 years..." As a pivotal property for conservation, restoration and management, the preserve is ideal for supporting ecosystem research and education. Upon closure of the sale, the title will be held by the Lewis and Clark Community College Foundation, and Great Rivers Land Trust will hold a conservation easement. The land management plan will be jointly developed by Great Rivers Land Trust and the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center. The center plans to provide opportunities for outdoor education, including community-based learning activities and higher education." article URL : http://www.thetelegraph.com/onset?id=552&template=article.html ************** Regards, VB _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
