Forest Preserve Awarded For Restoration Work At Lockport Prairie – Patch

Ecological Restoration at Lockport Prairie Receives Recognition for Advancing Sustainable Development Goals

The Forest Preserve District of Will County has been awarded the platinum tier Excellence in Ecological Restoration Program Award by the Chicago Wilderness Alliance. The award recognizes the significant habitat restoration work at the Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve, a project that directly supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Project Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 15: Life on Land

The core objective of the Lockport Prairie restoration project is the protection and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems and the halting of biodiversity loss, in direct alignment with SDG 15. The 320-acre preserve is a critical habitat for numerous protected species.

• Globally Rare Ecosystem: The project restores and protects dolomite prairie, a globally rare habitat that forms in shallow soils over dolomite bedrock.
• Protection of Endangered Flora: The site supports federally endangered or threatened plants, including leafy prairie clover and lakeside daisy.
• Conservation of Threatened Fauna: The preserve provides critical larval habitat for the endangered Hine’s emerald dragonfly and shelters the federally endangered rusty patched bumblebee.
• Support for State-Listed Species: The area is also a sanctuary for 11 state-listed plant species and two state-endangered turtles, including Illinois’ largest spotted turtle population.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The success of the restoration initiative is a testament to effective multi-stakeholder collaboration, a key target of SDG 17. The project demonstrates a strong partnership model for achieving environmental objectives.

1. Governmental Collaboration: The Forest Preserve District of Will County highlighted the significant partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as fundamental to the project’s success.
2. Community and Volunteer Engagement: The award notification letter commended the commitment of both Forest Preserve staff and volunteers in restoring the high-quality natural areas.

SDG 6 and SDG 11: Clean Water and Sustainable Communities

The project also contributes to broader sustainability targets. By restoring the preserve’s mix of prairie and groundwater-fed wetlands, the initiative supports SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), specifically the protection and restoration of water-related ecosystems. Furthermore, the preservation of this unique natural heritage contributes to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by safeguarding important natural and cultural sites.

Official Commendation and Project Impact

The award was formally accepted by Forest Preserve staff during the Celebration of Conservation on October 22. The Chicago Wilderness Alliance commission’s award notification letter stated, “The commission has been impressed with your knowledgeable staff and their work. Equally impressive is the support and organizational commitment of the Forest Preserve District of Will County and volunteers to restore the high-quality natural areas under your jurisdiction to their fullest potential.”

Juli Mason, Director of Conservation for the Forest Preserve, affirmed the collaborative nature of the achievement, stating, “In large part, this award recognizes the significant partnership of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the habitat restoration undertaken at the preserve.”

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Identified Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • This goal is directly addressed through the article’s focus on the ecological restoration of the Lockport Prairie. The work aims to protect, restore, and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems. The article highlights the conservation of a “globally rare dolomite prairie” and “groundwater-fed wetlands,” which are critical habitats. The efforts to protect biodiversity by providing habitat for numerous endangered and threatened species are central to this goal.
2. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • This goal is connected through the collaborative nature of the restoration project. The article explicitly states that the project was a “collaborative effort” and recognizes the “significant partnership of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.” The involvement of the Forest Preserve District, a federal agency, and volunteers demonstrates a multi-stakeholder partnership working towards a common conservation goal, which is the essence of SDG 17.

2. Specific SDG Targets

1. Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.
   • The article’s entire focus is on the “restoration work” at the 320-acre Lockport Prairie, which includes both terrestrial (dolomite prairie) and inland freshwater (groundwater-fed wetlands) ecosystems. This action is a direct implementation of Target 15.1.
2. Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.
   • The project provides “critical larval habitat for the endangered Hine’s emerald dragonfly” and supports numerous other threatened species, including two federally listed plants, the federally endangered rusty patched bumblebee, and state-endangered turtles. This work directly contributes to halting biodiversity loss and protecting threatened species.
3. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
   • The article highlights that the success of the project is due to a partnership between a public entity (Forest Preserve District of Will County), another public/governmental agency (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), and civil society (volunteers). This collaboration is a clear example of the effective partnerships promoted by this target.

3. Mentioned or Implied Indicators

1. Area of restored ecosystem:
   • The article mentions the “320-acre Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve” as the site of the restoration work. This specific land area serves as a quantitative indicator for measuring progress toward the conservation and restoration goals of Target 15.1.
2. Number and status of protected species:
   • The article lists several specific endangered or threatened species that the preserve supports: “leafy prairie clover,” “lakeside daisy,” “Hine’s emerald dragonfly,” “rusty patched bumblebee,” and “spotted turtle.” This list acts as a qualitative and quantitative indicator of the project’s success in protecting biodiversity and preventing extinctions, which is relevant to measuring progress for Target 15.5.
3. Qualitative assessment of restoration success:
   • The project receiving a “platinum tier Excellence in Ecological Restoration Program Award” is a strong qualitative indicator. It signifies that the restoration efforts are not only underway but are being executed to a very high standard, successfully achieving the goals of habitat restoration under Target 15.1.
4. Existence of multi-stakeholder partnerships:
   • The explicit mention of the collaboration between the “Forest Preserve District of Will County,” the “U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,” and “volunteers” serves as a direct, albeit qualitative, indicator that a partnership is in place and functioning to achieve conservation goals, aligning with the measurement of Target 17.17.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: patch.com