The Illinois Buffer Partnership is a statewide Trees Forever program that promotes and showcases (through partnerships) the voluntary efforts of farmers, landowners, and communities in the planting, maintenance, and enhancement of conservation buffers to reduce soil erosion, improve water and soil quality, and provide wildlife and pollinator habitat (www.treesforever.org/Illinois_Buffer_Partnership).
Annually, between 10 and 20 Illinois Buffer Partnership participants are eligible to receive the following: cost-share assistance, on-site technical assistance from Trees Forever, project signs, and the opportunity to host a field day to highlight their project. Eligible conservation projects include riparian buffers, livestock buffers, streambank stabilization projects, wetland development, pollinator habitat, rain gardens, and agroforestry.
In 2017 and 2018, Trees Forever provided $60,000 and technical assistance to 40 landowners across Illinois to plant native trees, shrubs, forbs, and grasses to improve water quality, reduce erosion, and provide wildlife and pollinator habitat. Through 64 presentations throughout the state, Trees Forever reached 5,907 people, covering a range of subjects—soil health, riparian buffers, native plants, pollinators, agroforestry, forest and pest management, tree care, improved water and air quality, species diversity, invasive species management, erosion reduction, establishing and maintaining BMPs, energy efficiency, and plant identification. In addition, Trees Forever hosted six workshops and field days with 124 attendees as well as hosted a display at 11 conferences, reaching 8,575 people.
