Natural Land Institute (NLI) recently announced that nominations for the George and Barbara Fell Award will be accepted through January 17, 2020. The land conservation award, named for George Fell, who founded the Natural Land Institute in 1958, and his wife, Barbara, recognizes accomplishments that have significantly advanced natural area preservation, protection, management and restoration in northern Illinois.

This is an opportunity to give recognition to an individual who has demonstrated distinguished achievement during an entire career, which could be in natural resources management, education, journalism, law, or science applied to protection, stewardship or restoration of natural areas, and understanding of natural diversity. Volunteers are also eligible. For additional details about the nominating guidelines and criteria, and to download the form visit: https://www.naturalland.org/gb-fell-award/ or call the NLI office at 815/964-6666. George and Barbara devoted their lives to the protection of natural areas in Illinois. They were committed to protecting Illinois’ natural heritage so rare and endangered plant and animal species would be here for future generations.

The presentation of the 2020 George and Barbara Fell Award will be at the Natural Land Institute’s Annual Dinner to be held on Tuesday, March 24, 2020, 5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at Giovanni’s Restaurant & Convention Center, 610 N. Bell School Rd., Rockford, Ill.  61107.

About the Natural Land Institute

The Natural Land Institute, an accredited land trust, is a 501(c)3, non-for-profit land conservation organization based in Rockford, Illinois and has protected more than 17,300 acres of natural land in Illinois since 1958. Their current service area covers twelve counties in northern Illinois. NLI’s mission is to create an enduring legacy of natural land in northern Illinois for people, plants and animals. For more information and to donate: www.NaturalLand.org .