Back in Time . . . Pre-settlement Northern Illinois

Join the Lake-to-Prairie Chapter of Wild Ones for a step back in time as Ed Collins uses historic archives and botanical intuition to understand what has transpired across the landscape of Northeastern Illinois over the past 10,000 years.

For Directions Phone: (847) 526-6225

Speaker: Ed Collins, McHenry County Conservation District

Program

Join the Lake-to-Prairie Chapter of Wild Ones for a step back in time as Ed Collins uses historic archives and botanical intuition to understand what has transpired across the landscape of Northeastern Illinois over the past 10,000 years.

Ed describes this subject as "Forensic Ecology." In his words, "Understanding the land and how it has changed since large scale settlement began in the mid-nineteenth century is critical to successfully restoring native plant and animal communities." And as he will point out, "These techniques can be applied to any size landscape, be it a small backyard or a 5,000 acre park."

Come and enjoy a sojourn into the genealogical family album for Northeastern Illinois. You will garner a fundamental understanding of the ecological landscape, and how tracing that history can help create richer prairie, woodland and wetland restoration projects.

Ed has worked for the McHenry County Conservation District for 25 years, the last ten as the head of the Natural Resource Management Department. His work there includes overseeing the efforts of 15 ecologists engaged in the restoration of woodlands, prairies and wetlands on 25,000 acres of open space administered by the District.