Impatient Hero of Natural Areas

Force of Nature: George Fell, Founder of the Natural Areas Movement. 

by Arthur Melville Pearson. 

University of Wisconsin Press. 2017.

It's a dramatic and important book - not simply because the man was great (though he was) but because it documents the launching of biodiversity conservation. 

I worked with Fell for a few years and then, for decades, with his organizations. So this post is initially a summary of Arthur Pearson’s book and then my own observations.

George had lofty ideals and was dedicated, introverted, and not the easiest person to get along with. 

Great Illinois academics like Cowles, Vestal, and Shelford seemed to be trying to establish biodiversity conservation in previous decades, but had little on-the-ground success to show for it (See Endnote 1). They worked through existing government and academic institutions but found, as William Hornaday’s 1914 address to the Yale School of Forestry put it, most of those people:

“… stick closely to their desk-work, soaring after the infinite and diving after the unfathomable, but never spending a dollar or lifting an active finger on the firing-line in defense of wildlife. I have talked to these men until I am tired, and most of them seem to be hopelessly sodden and apathetic.” 

Fell, after years of failing to interest politicians and potential donors in an Illinois nature preserves program, moved to Washington, D.C. and finagled an unpaid job with the struggling Ecologists’ Union (which had $300 in the bank). Thus, on failing at the state level, Fell went national. He first sought legislation to establish a federal Nature Conservancy agency by statute, despite his attitude toward government, which he expressed as: 

“I would, if I were running things, throw out of Washington about ¾ of all public employees to start with and then proceed to weed out the remainder of the crop. I am obviously very prejudiced about the matter, but it can’t exactly be said I don’t know what I’m talking about because I’ve worked under 3 departments of the federal government.” 

Yes, he’d had experience, and was fired or forced out all 3 times. He wanted to enlist the power of government, but he wanted effectiveness, not bureaucracy. His wife Barbara was equally dedicated and willful. While trying to make it in his unpaid Ecologists’ Union position, George searched for actual paying jobs in Washington but failed. Barbara got a job in a doctor's office and supported them both. When they went on the road for organizing or to work a conference, they packed enough sandwiches for the whole trip – and slept in the car – to save money.

Another iron George had in the fire was the private not-for-profit route, and here, in time, his efforts resulted in a powerful and effective national Nature Conservancy – launching its trajectory toward becoming the world’s biggest and richest conservation organization. But Fell’s singlemindedness was two-edged. He built power and effectiveness in part by recognizing and teaming with other dedicated, forceful people, but he often didn’t get along with them. Although promoting Nature Conservancy chapter leaders, he “didn’t play ball with these people and encourage them.” Soon “some wanted to break off from the Conservancy.” Instead the Conservancy fired him and hired a new director in 1957. 

Was he disappointed, after years of sandwiches and hard-won success? Yes, bitterly. Was he discouraged? No, he returned to Illinois and resumed efforts to establish an effective government nature agency. Barbara found a job as a lab tech. By 1960 he had established the not-for-profit Natural Land Institute, drafted a bill for an Illinois nature preserves commission, mailed copies to every garden club, conservation organization, and civic group, and set up a Citizens Committee for Nature Conservation (which lobbied for the bill). After great battles, in 1961 the bill was passed by the legislature and then vetoed by the governor, who found the creatively designed commission too independent.   

Two years later, with deeper support, his bill passed again, but a “similar” bill also passed – without the independence or funding. Thus the governor could veto Fell’s bill while pacifying the constituency by signing the similar-looking, weakened one.

Next, Fell sought ways to make the imperfect new Illinois Nature Preserves Commission (INPC) succeed. With no funds for staff and little support from the Department of Conservation, which now semi-controlled the Commission, Fell got himself elected “Secretary” to the Commission and worked full time for results. He received no pay, again. He recruited volunteer conservationists. He raised funds through the Natural Land Institute (NLI) to hire a skeleton staff. His not-for-profit NLI made the Commission effective. 

Once a piece of property is dedicated as an Illinois Nature Preserve, a healthy ecosystem there is legally protected as that land’s “highest and best use for public purpose.” It can’t be usurped for a road, a university campus, or a dog park. It is safe – unless “un-dedicated,” which requires the approval of the Commission, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Governor. Impressively, that has never happened during the Commission’s 57-year history (so far).

The first protected land was 829 acres of sand prairie and savanna at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve. One of the most important biodiversity sites in the Midwest, Illinois Beach was recommended for protection by Jens Jensen in 1888. Many advocated for it over the years, but a vigorous Illinois Dunesland Preservation Society was organized in 1944. The first land was bought by the State in 1948. The preserve is a glorious example of persistence.

Any landowner can dedicate ecologically important land. The next eleven Nature Preserves were dedicated by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. Soon other agencies and even private landowners stepped up. But battles continued – thanks to many people’s eagerness to “develop” or “improve” nature, bureaucratic tendency toward compromise, and the primitiveness of our culture’s understanding of ecology. Despite ecologists’ concerns about fragmentation, the DOC director opposed dedicating large areas. He cautioned against Fell’s ambitious proposals, writing: “The Commission should endeavor to secure dedication of … quality rather than … quantity.” He advocated “the utmost multiple use of all … areas and facilities for all types of outdoor recreation” The problem, of course, is that prairie birds can’t breed on grasslands that are mowed for equestrian contests. Rare fish and amphibians may not survive in ponds stocked with exotic game fish. 

Fell wanted as many and as large high-quality preserves as possible and eloquently rebutted arguments to restrict boundaries because of blemishes that could be nursed back toward good nature. He wrote that all Illinois natural areas:

“… are in jeopardy and in most cases the samples available are pitiful, partly mutilated remnants that have escaped complete destruction only by accident. Probably there is not an acre of ground in the State of Illinois that can be considered as virgin land, unchanged by the influence of civilized man.”

By 1973 there were 52 nature preserves totaling nearly 15,000 acres. In 1978 I had the great privilege of joining the growing, vigorous, dedicated staff (thanks to a major grant from the Joyce Foundation). I oversaw the dedication of Somme Prairie, Braidwood Dunes and Savanna, O’Hara Woods, and many more. By 1981 there were 80 woodlands, prairies, and wetlands dedicated – totaling 18,559 acres. Bit by bit, it seemed to be working as Fell envisioned it. Every preserve required work for research, debate, compromise (as little as possible), boundary decisions, and stewardship that took special needs and features into account. 

So far as I could tell in 1978, my boss Jerry Paulson then ran the organization. George did special projects, saving money by fiddling with equipment that didn’t work, lobbying Commissioners and other important people. Jerry supervised the staff and led our strategic planning. I helped write the 56 pages of the “Illinois Nature Preserves System 1979-1980 Report.” I’m impressed still by its grit and vision. The INPC now had ten “principal staff members,” eight Commissioners, twelve advisors and consultants – a list that included the most dedicated, expert, and influential conservationists in the state. But George Fell and those other nine “principal staff” were on the road to getting fired again. 

Reports like the one I helped write had been issued every two years. Coming across one had been part of what compelled me to take this mission to heart. The reports were outspoken about urgencies and needs. That frankness rankled many agencies that resented their failures being publicized. Here are examples from the 79-80 Report.

CRANBERRY SLOUGH NATURE PRESERVE: Part of the preserve is dominated by hawthorn and European swamp buckthorn. A dam maintains the water in the slough at an artificially high level. 

COLORED SANDS BLUFF NATURE PRESERVE: Damage to the sand bluff from erosion and disturbance by climbers should be controlled. 

CHESTNUT HILLS NATURE PRESERVE: Exotic species (black locust, Japanese honeysuckle, and multiflora rose) should be controlled. 

SAND RIDGE NATURE PRESERVE: Prairie Vegetation is being replaced by invading brush. A telephone anode field mistakenly installed in the preserve by Illinois Bell is being removed. 

THORNTON-LANSING ROAD NATURE PRESERVE: The high quality prairie and savanna areas have suffered badly from lack of fire. Poor supervision at the youth camping area in the preserve has resulted in the digging of pits, chopping of trees, and other vandalism. Trespass by off-road vehicles is a serious threat to the sand area…

Fell had continued to seek consensus on ambitious goals, define what was needed, and doggedly work to make the vision real. One sign that the bureaucracy was becoming restless was the politics surrounding the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory. It was clear that the Natural Land Institute's ecologist Jack White would be the best supervisor. But the DOC objected to so much Fell influence. White resigned; the University of Illinois got the $650,000; they then contracted with the NLI to staff the Inventory with White as supervisor. According to the INPC 1979-1980 Report, the Inventory recommended the preservation of 208 additional privately-owned sites totaling 38,563 acres and worth $24,000,000. The DOC, Nature Conservancy, and forest preserve districts started buying them. 

It is typical of the George Fell mentality that 32 areas were classified as being held by “charitable or quasi-public” entities. No funding to buy these - the idea was that "quasi-public" agencies should dedicate their land for free – being responsible to the public trust. These agencies included power companies, cemeteries, universities, railroads, etc. that saw themselves as businesses, responsible to their boards and stockholders. We negotiated. Many of them dedicated properties. But would they care for them in the long run? 

At one point Fell told me enigmatically the vultures were circling. Nature Conservancy urged me to come work for them, as Fell’s days were numbered. In 1982 the axe fell. DOC cut off all funding. Many Commissioners were now professionals that benefitted from DOC funding. Without any good alternatives, they voted to scrap NLI and its staff and turn the Nature Preserves Commission over to DOC. As Jack White said, “At least several of them looked scared and embarrassed, and they acted it all out as if they didn’t really want to admit what they were actually doing.”  

The Commission continued, with some outstanding staff (and some not so outstanding) hired through DOC (now DNR, the Department of Natural Resources). (See Endnote 2.) Many volunteers, staff, and partner agencies have continued the work. Pearson’s book has a hopeful conclusion – as is appropriate for a biography of this kind. But some reality checking is appropriate as follow up. 

My diagnosis is that INPC constituency (including people influential in business and politics) needs to be re-inspired. Especially during the terms of Governors Blagojevich and Rauner, the Nature Preserves program has suffered. 

According to the Commission itself, many goals are not being met because of:

“ … an aging INPC workforce, members of which are at or near retirement. The INPC is supported by IDNR, which also has high rates of retirement, placing high demands on the agency’s ability to fill positions. INPC vacancies have not been filled for retirees and for other key positions. Administrative capacity has been decimated. … The Commission has been … letting some critical work go unaddressed. It is in this dire economic and political environment, that this plan is being developed.” 

This grim analysis is from the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission 2015-2020 Strategic Plan, which was posted in draft on Sept. 15, 2015. As of December 2018, the unfinished draft is still posted. You can check it out at … 

https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/INPC/Documents/INPC15_20StratPlanPublicReviewDraft81115.pdf

 … perhaps only until someone notices it’s still on line.

George Fell’s life-long dedication produced The Nature Conservancy, Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, Natural Land Institute, Natural Areas Association, and more – including, by extension, according to Pearson, Chicago Wilderness and $1.3 billion in voter-approved referenda to buy and restore an additional 40,000 acres of forest preserve land.

Yes, many parts of the natural areas mission thrive. Other signs look ominous. Some examples have been presented by this blog - though not outspoken language – which perhaps we need more of. 

https://woodsandprairie.blogspot.com/2014/08/survivor-langham-island.html
https://woodsandprairie.blogspot.com/2016/08/prairie-yells-for-help.html
https://woodsandprairie.blogspot.com/2015/08/dystopian-prairie.html

Pearson’s book is wonderful. We need more of this history – and more vision for the future. (Well, see Endnote 3.)

Endnotes

Endnote 1

Henry Cowles “discovered” ecological community dynamics and inspired Chicago area folks to care about them. His students Arthur Vestal (botanist) and Victor Shelford (zoologist) did ground-breaking (no, ground-saving) research. Shelford played a major role in establishing the Ecological Society of America (which disappointed him), the Ecologist’s Union (which disappointed him), and ultimately The Nature Conservancy. 

These visionary people are worth studying. Does anyone have recommendations for early biodiversity conservation history books or articles? 

A quick summary is that, in the decades before George Fell, wildlands were protected for two reasons: 1) resources (for example, production of lumber and grazing for cows and sheep) and 2) recreation (for example hunting, fishing, boating, hiking in scenery, family vacations). In other words, the priority was put on immediate human use, often to the long-term detriment of the natural ecosystem, which was not then recognized as being worth much. These days, “biodiversity” and “nature as such” are also on the table. 

Endnote 2

Most of the time, bureaucracies don't hire dedicated, creative innovators. Following Fell's ouster, the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission went entirely without staff for some time. The first DOC-selected director was a first-rate leader, Karen Witter, who did much to restore dedication and resources to the Commission. She was followed by Brian Anderson, also an effective conservationist. But the constituency dwindled from what it was, for reasons worth exploring, sometime. I lost track of most Commission details in recent years, but many preserves have deteriorated. The strategic plan quoted above sounds like a cry for help. I wonder who is working on what - to engage our new governor.

Endnote 3

This blog is mostly about inspiring work and discoveries. Perhaps more balanced views can come from other kinds of books and articles. 

But sometimes, as here, we try to delve into the infinites of politics and biography. A summary of the history of Chicago region biodiversity conservation battles, successes, and setbacks from 1996 to 2016 can be found at: 

https://woodsandprairie.blogspot.com/2016/05/after-miracle.html

Or, rather than “summary” – should I write “tidbits about”?

In case the timing of this post is not clear, I think Arthur Pearson's book is a good one for you to get yourself during this season of buying stuff – or to give to someone who might be inspired. 

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Arthur Pearson for generous edits and corrections. Thanks to Mark Kluge, Kathy Garness, and Eriko Kojima for more edits and corrections. 

Arthur's book is available at bookstores, Amazon of course, libraries, and through the University of Wisconsin Press