What is the Riverwoods Preservation Council?
The Riverwoods Preservation Council was incorporated on July 6, 2006, as a tax-exempt, non-profit community organization. The RPC was formed because of our concern for the health and future of local woodlands. We want to protect what makes Riverwoods unique - woodlands that the state of Illinois considers endangered - its ancient trees and its plant and animal inhabitants. Our purpose is to attain and preserve an ecologically sound balance of animals, plants and development in Riverwoods, Illinois and nearby areas.
What has the RPC been doing?
The RPC has conducted a variety of public presentations. The central topic has been the flora and fauna of our wonderful Riverwoods environment. Speakers have included a representative of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department, a biologist from Ryerson Nature Preserve, an expert from the Morton Arboretum, local arborists, the owner and manager of a wild-bird sanctuary, and an architect specializing in environmentally-sensitive construction. For notes from some of the presentations, Click Here.
The RPC has regularly submitted articles to the Village Voice newsletter, on topics including tree health, proper mulching, environmentally-sensitive construction, and deer habitat and issues. Riverwoods presents a great opportunity to learn about our role in the natural environment, and to act on that knowledge to preserve our environment for future generations. For copies of the articles, Click Here.
The RPC's book, In Our Own Backyard, was distributed without charge to all homes in Riverwoods in late 2008. If you are interested in purchasing a copy, Click Here.
The RPC was very pleased when in 2008 its president, Rich Koomjian, was honored with the 2008 Way Out Wilderness Local Hero Award by the Habitat Project of Audubon Chicago. The award was presented to Rich "for raising the bar for natural areas advocacy on the North Shore." Rich has continued to be active in environmental matters as a village trustee and head of the village's Environmental Committee.
Most recently, the RPC conducted the first phase of a scientific study of woodland health in the community. If you would like to see the report, Click Here. We anticipate additional work in the near future.
For our 2009 year-end letter, Click Here.
What is the RPC's message?
The central theme in all our activities has been simple: habitat preservation. A healthy habitat is a complex network of interdependent species. Plants and wildlife in Riverwoods have a variety of habitat needs if they are to survive. Like the plants and animals, we rely on our habitat for our physical well-being as well as for our personal enjoyment. The question for all of us is: how do we relate to our environment? Is it something for us to exploit, or something for us to nurture and preserve? The RPC believes that only through careful preservation will our fragile habitat survive. If we can convey that message well enough to inspire you, we know we will achieve our goals.
How does it affect me?
If you enjoy the secluded natural environment of Riverwoods, you are no doubt concerned about the future of our woodlands. There is also the economic factor. The value of Riverwoods properties arises in large measure from the uniqueness of our community - its wooded ambience.
How can I help?
For some ideas of what you can do with your own property, Click Here. If you would like to be added to the RPC's email list, would like to contribute, or would like to become involved in our work, please Contact Us.
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(Photograph of Red-Bellied Woodpecker by Ho Min Lim) |
