The project location is 112 acres within the 595-acre greenbelt forest preserve

The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service (DOI FWS) awarded a $489,897 Cooperative Agreement under the Coastal Program (CFDA 15.630) to the Lake County Forest Preserve District in Illinois. This 3-year project aims to expand upon previous habitat restoration efforts at the Greenbelt Forest Preserve to create a more continuous and resilient ecosystem for native plant and animal species. Key management activities will include controlling aggressive native and invasive woody vegetation, followed by seeding to establish diverse native plant communities across 112 acres of upland, wetland, prairie, and oak savanna habitats. This project will protect prior conservation investments by enhancing habitats and expanding populations of state and federally listed species such as rare shrubland birds, the smooth green snake, rusty patched bumble bee, and golden sedge.

The purpose is to expand upon previous restoration to create a more continuous habitat matrix for native species that is more resilient to future invasive plant encroachment. The major management activities will be controlling aggressive native and invasive woody species and seeding the treated areas to bolster and establish native plant populations. The primary targets include, but are not limited to, common buckthorn, black alder, invasive honeysuckle, and grey dogwood. Using established methods that were previously success at greenbelt, contractors will cut invasive shrubs followed by cut-stump and RE-sprout herbicide treatments. Then, seed mixes will be designed and sown to expand the high-quality plant communities. The project acres represent a mosaic of upland, wetland, prairie, and remnant OAK savanna that are adjacent to previously restored areas. The proposed project protects investments by expanding habitats that will buffer against future encroachment and increase the site S capacity to maintain state and federally listed flora and fauna, including rare shrubland birds, smooth green snake, rusty patched bumble BEE, and golden sedge. The project outcome is 112 restored acres which will sustain and enhance the high-quality and diverse habitat, positively impacting state and federally listed species.