JO DAVIESS CONSERVATION FOUNDATION INC

STEWARDSHIP AND PUBLIC ACCESS: IN ANY GIVEN YEAR THESE SERVICES MAKE UP THE LARGEST ANNUAL PROGRAM EXPENSE FOR JDCF. LABOR AND EQUIPMENT COMPRISE THE BULK OF THESE PROGRAM SERVICES FOR THE CARE, MAINTENANCE AND ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF PROPERTY HELD IN PUBLIC TRUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE IN NW ILLINOIS. IN 2024, JDCF'S DRIFTLESS STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE (DSI) PROGRAM IS IN ITS FOURTH YEAR. DSI OFFERS FEE FOR SERVICE STEWARDSHIP SERVICES ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATELY PROTECTED LANDS IN FOUR ADDITIONAL COUNTIES IN NW ILLINOIS. OF THE MORE THAN 2,000 ACRES THAT JDCF OWNS, APPROXIMATELY 1,500 ACRES WITH OVER 60 MILES OF TRAILS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR PASSIVE RECREATION AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES, INCLUDING TWO PARTNER PRESERVES. IN 2024, WE ESTIMATE OVER 25,000 PEOPLE VISITED OUR PRESERVES. OUR DEDICATED TEAM OF RESTORATION SPECIALISTS ACQUIRED A NEW GMC SIERRA THROUGH AN ILDNR GRANT AND A NEW DUMP TRAILER. TOTAL STEWARDSHIP SERVICES FOR 2024, INCLUDING SALARIES, EQUIPMENT, TRAINING, INSURANCE AND VEHICLES, WAS APPROXIMATELY: $722,000. REVENUE FOR STEWARDSHIP TOTALED APPROXIMATELY $852,000; DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS TOTALED APPROXIMATELY $151,000.

LAND PRESERVATION: JDCF PRESERVES LAND IN TWO DISTINCT WAYS, CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND ACQUISITIONS. IN 2024, JDCF ACQUIRED A CONSERVATION EASEMENT OF 120 ACRES PRESERVING NATIVE FOREST HABITAT, A TREE PLANTING AREA, A REMNANT HILL PRAIRIE AND SOME INDIGENOUS CULTURAL AREAS. WITH THIS EASEMENT JDCF NOW HOLDS 35 CONSERVATION, CULTURAL AND AGRICULTURAL EASEMENTS TOTALING 4,708 ACRES. IN 2024, JDCF ACQUIRED TWO ADDITIONAL FEE SIMPLE PROPERTIES TOTALING 41.74. ACQUISITIONS LIKE THESE ALLOW JDCF AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO PRESERVE AGRICULTURAL LAND AND NATURAL AREAS IN PERPETUITY IN JO DAVIESS COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS. THE 40-ACRE MOSTLY WOODED THOMSON BLUFF PROPERTY WAS ACQUIRED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ARCHEOLOGICAL CONSERVANCY. IN THE BEGINNING OF 2024, JDCF SOLD ITS WARD'S GROVE PROPERTY TO THE IL DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, INCREASING THE SIZE OF ITS SAME-NAMED NATURE PRESERVE AREA. THE SALE OF THIS PROPERTY BROUGHT IN $500,000 IN RESTRICTED FUNDS HELD IN RESERVE FOR FUTURE LAND ACQUISITIONS. THE REMAINING SALE PROCEEDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $150,000 WERE ALLOCATED TO SUPPORT OUR NEW STEWARDSHIP SHOP FACILITY AND CREATED A BOARD DESIGNATED FUND FOR FUTURE CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEEDS. OPERATING REVENUE FOR THE LAND PRESERVATION PROGRAM TOTALED APPROXIMATELY $819,000 AND EXPENSES TOTALED APPROXIMATELY $707,000. DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS TOTALED APPROXIMATELY $244,000