NAS - Illinois Natural Areas Stewardship Grant Program (FY26)

Eligible Recipients are Conservation Land Trusts performing stewardship activities on eligible land. Eligible Lands • Land protected by the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission as a dedicated Illinois Nature Preserve, dedicated buffer, or registered as a Land and Water Reserve. • Preserve/Reserve must have a current management schedule approved by the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission. • Conservation Land Trusts can work on eligible land owned by another entity provided there is a properly executed agreement between the Conservation Land Trust and the landowner, and the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission has been notified of this agreement at the time of application. The agreement must be in effect at minimum through the end of the grant term. • Work on land owned by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is discouraged unless the qualifying and/or significant feature receiving work crosses an IDNR boundary and inclusion of the IDNR portion of the feature is critical for the success of the stewardship project. Other exceptions may be considered by the grant reviewers. Grant assistance may be obtained for the following activities: • Stewardship activities. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, stewardship of land or water for the following: - Stewardship actions identified in a current, approved management schedule which are designed to maintain, preserve, or improve the condition of native natural communities, diversity of species, and ecological processes, - control of exotic and invasive species, - prescribed burns, or - restoration/enhancement of native plant communities. • Contractual services for any eligible project, • Purchase and rental of supplies and equipment such as: - UTVs, trailers, sprayers, seed, herbicide), - personal protection items (except boots), - hand tools, - radios, • Staff time (excluding benefits) • Indirect Costs

The purpose of the Illinois Natural Areas Stewardship Grant Program is to increase stewardship on dedicated Illinois Nature Preserves and registered Land and Water Reserves through grants to Conservation Land Trusts, and to increase stewardship capacity within Conservation Land Trusts.

Funding for this grant program is derived from a portion of the Illinois Natural Areas Acquisition Fund (NAAF); NAAF is a Department of Natural Resources fund that supports the acquisition, protection, and stewardship of natural areas, including habitats for endangered and threatened species (Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act, 525 ILCS 35/14). Stewardship actions funded by this grant program must be included in the management schedules approved by the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission. Eligible costs may include contractual services, staff time related to the project, equipment and materials necessary to complete stewardship projects such as tools, safety items, herbicide, construction materials, and indirect costs. Benefit costs are not eligible. Grant Program Administration: By Administrative Rule, maximum funding to one project is $100,000. A suggested minimum project amount is $20,000. There is a 5% or $1,000 matching fund requirement, whichever is less on each project. Length of grant term will be no more than two (2) years and will be paid on a reimbursement basis at the end of the project unless other arrangements are provided in the grant agreement.

10% de minimus or the entity's NICR rate

The match is to be 5% or a minimum of $1,000

If your question is related to the general; grant application process or difficulties with Amplifund, contact susan.duke@illinois.gov. If your question is program specific with regards to stewardship items or nature preserves, please contact the program biologist kelly.neal@illinois,gov.

Conservation Land Trusts

Illinois Natural Areas Stewardship Grant Program

Periodic performance and periodic financial reporting is required quarterly.

Susan J. Duke Grant Administrator Office of Grant Management and Assistance One Natural Resources Way Springfield, Illinois 62702-1271 Desk (217) 785-4416 Fax (217) 785-2438 susan.duke@illinois.gov

Kelly Neal Natural Areas Program Manager Division of Natural Heritage Illinois Department of Natural Resources Cell: (217)524-2415 Kelly.Neal@illinois.gov