One of the simplest ways you can take action against Climate Change is by advocating for the protection of nature and wildlife. By contacting your elected official through the campaigns below, you help them understand how they can best serve the community they represent.
Current Campaigns
Birds: Support Federal and Local bills to protect birds
Ask your representatives in Congress and Chicago City Hall to pass bird-friendly policies.
Local: Thank Your Alderperson for Appointing the Urban Forestry Advisory Board
Thank Mayor Lightfoot and your Alderperson for their efforts and continued support of forestry-related initiatives in the city.
Save South Shore Nature Sanctuary: Say NO to the TGR Golf Course
A proposed design of a new golf course at Jackson Park and South Shore Golf Courses would destroy thousands of trees and the South Shore Nature Sanctuary. Tell your Alderperson and Mayor Lightfoot NO to the TGR Golf redevelopment.
Local: Protect Lake County’s Greenway Corridor
Tell Governor Pritzker to transfer the now-defunct Route 53 Extension to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) so it can be protected as a state park.
State: Tell State Lawmakers to Protect Your Waterway Rights
Contact your state legislators and ask them to support HB 1568, which affirms Illinoisans’ right to recreate on our shared water resources responsibly.
Since 2017, over 16,000 messages have been sent to local, regional, and national elected officials in support of nature and the right to experience nature near where you live. This collective action has protected landscapes like Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, defeated rollbacks to wildlife protections in Illinois, and helped pass conservation legislation like the Great American Outdoors Act.
Connect with your Legislators
Look up who represents you using Openlands easy to use tool. By searching you can find out who your government officials are, and connect with them by phone, email, or through their website.
Learn More About the Issues
Delve deeper into why Openlands advocates for nature-based issues locally and nationally.
The Monarch Needs Federal Protections Now
After six long years of consideration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced in December that it would not protect the Monarch under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), despite evidence that the North American butterfly has suffered dramatic population decreases over the last half-century.
Urban Forestry Advisory Board Key to Mitigating City Flood Damages, Promoting Environmental Equity Passes in City Council
To protect trees, the Chicago City Council unanimously voted on Friday, June 25 to establish an Urban Forestry Advisory Board, which Openlands supported. The Urban Forestry Advisory Board ordinance passed almost a year after it was first proposed by Alderperson Scott Waguespack, along with Alderpersons Samantha Nugent and George A. Cardenasto. The win would not have been possible without the TreeKeepers and advocates who championed the ordinance, along with the 27 alderpersons who co-sponsored the bill.
Why Openlands Has Joined A Lawsuit Against The City of Joliet
Openlands has joined a legal fight, alongside people who live and farm in this special place, because as an organization, we believe that, to be competitive on a global scale, the protection of nature and jobs creation can and must coexist, and that it is imperative that we work together with all the partners for a more equitable, resilient, healthy land-use solution.
Stay Engaged with Action Alerts
Taking action takes many forms at Openlands, from volunteering at a community tree planting to supporting our work with a monthly donation. You can also stay involved with Openlands advocacy efforts by signing up for Action Alert emails.