FoSV description & mission statement

Our mission is to preserve our natural heritage by acquiring, restoring, and protecting ecologically significant lands in the Sangamon River watershed. Incorporated in 1998 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, we are proud to be entering our second decade of helping private and public entities protect and manage their land. We are especially proud of the property we own and are actively managing for biodiversity.

Our Accomplishments:

• Initiated legacy donation program, 2010
  
• Conducted controlled burn workshop for the Springfield Park District in March 2009
  
• President, Vern LaGesse, was the first second-time winner of the State Journal-Register’s Prairie and the People award for best volunteer, October 2009
  
• Purchased a rare 50-acre sand forest, Boyle Woods, in Cass County in January 2008
  
• Assisted Springfield Park District with funding, planting and oversight of 70-acre prairie planting in Centennial Park for Franklin’s Ground Squirrel in 2007-2008
  
• Acquired the Wolf Preserve, a 68-acre woodland near Lincoln’s New Salem in November 2005
  
• Dedicated the 9-acre Knuppel Wildlife Sanctuary near Petersburg in May 2005
  
• The Friends were named the 2004 Prairie and the People award winner for best conservation group and best volunteer (Vern LaGesse, president) by the Springfield State Journal Register newspaper
  
• Completed the Inventory of Sangamon County Natural Areas (June 2004)
  
• Hold two conservation easements with Sangamon County for protection and management of the county’s fires two parks, the South Fork Nature Reserve and Carver Yocum Homestead Park
  
• Conduct annual Sangamon River Cleanup
  
• Provide stewardship assistance to private landowners in Menard County, including the Old Salem Chautauqua Homeowner’s Associate for their wetland restoration, Baugher’s Savanna and Hill Prairie
  
• Conduct ongoing stewardship at Revis Hill Prairie Nature Preserve (Mason County), Carpenter Park Nature Preserve (Sangamon County), Washington Park (Springfield), and other natural areas
  
• Provide our membership with quarterly newsletter, membership events, tours, outings and workshops