Gordon Eggers, trustee and past president of the Natural Land Institute wrote: 

 “Few of us can afford to purchase parcels of land and convey them to conservation organizations. That’s why we all work together, so that as a group we can make a larger impact. Your contribution now makes open land available for future generations to maintain and enjoy. In return, their lives will be enriched, and they will honor your sacrifice by insuring that land stays open to those who follow them. It’s like a recycling of trust.”

Partners working together on the local, state, and national levels have laid the groundwork to purchase more than 700 acres of land west of the village of Rockton. They are:  

· Local citizens Carl and Myrna Nygren as well as many other friends and supporters who have contributed to the Natural Land Institute for 42 years

·  Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture

· The Conservation Fund, a national not-for-profit organization

· Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation 2000 Program

· Grand Victoria Foundation

Project partners are extending benefits to people on the local, state, and national levels. When hundreds of acres of wetlands are preserved and allowed to perform their natural functions, they diminish the impacts of flooding and associated chemical runoff.  The wetlands at the Carl and Myrna Nygren Preserve increase the potential for maintaining clean water for the village of Rockton, the surrounding area, and communities downstream.

Hundreds of acres of natural land preserved in perpetuity will virtually guarantee that residents within the region – many from their own backyards – have remarkable wildlife viewing opportunities. Rockton and Shirland Grade Schools, Hononegah High School, Rock Valley Community College, Beloit College, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and surrounding school systems will have access to a unique area for research and educational purposes.  Volunteers of all ages and skills will have opportunities to participate in management and protection activities.

People recognize that living in proximity to natural places increases the quality of life.  Vibrant plant and animal communities attract families who value open spaces with clean air and clean water.  Residents also recognize the modest demands of natural areas; they do not require costly roads, electricity, and complex infrastructures.  With wise planning and community support, economic development in the region will continue to flourish.

Dr. Brian Anderson, in his capacity as Conservation 2000 Coordinator for the state of Illinois observed, 

“The Nygren Wetland is one of the most spectacular natural resource enhancement programs that I have ever seen in Illinois.  The scale of the vision is really exciting.  This is a big winner.”

 John F. Turner, president of The Conservation Fund, and former director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said while touring the Nygren tract: 

“I think Americans from coast to coast are alarmed at the rate we’re losing prime farmland, wood lots, wetland areas, wildlife habitat.  We’re talking about the livability of communities . . . the sustainability of communities environmentally, culturally, economically.  Folks all over the country can learn from what they [the Natural Land Institute and partners] are doing.”

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