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Poor development practices. Some unfortunate development trends and construction practices are eliminating woodlands. The results: Fewer trees. Stressed and injured trees. A less diverse group of plants and wildlife because of smaller, fragmented habitat. Increasing localized flooding.
Overbrowsing by deer. Large deer herds are wiping out the woodland understory, eliminating saplings necessary to replace trees dying of old age or stress. Also being eliminated are native plants that serve as food and habitat for other wildlife, leading to their disappearance in our area. The ground is left open for garlic mustard and other invasives.
Invasive plants. Invasives such as garlic mustard and buckthorn crowd out other plants by creating shade and changing soil chemistry.
Dense canopy. Some portions of Riverwoods suffer from a dense canopy that saplings cannot get sufficient light to thrive, especially when they have to compete with invasives and survive deer browse.

Preserve all the native habitat we can. Learn to distinguish native ground cover from invasive weeds. Become familiar with understory shrubs and trees, as well as canopy trees. Learn how to care for them.

Plant natives. Native trees and other plants have adapted to the Riverwoods environment, and are the ones most likely to thrive without becoming invasive. When natives are established, little maintenance is required. The village has a reimbursement program to help you reforest.

Think diversity. Diversity in plants leads to diversity in wildlife. Diversity adds visual interest, and also protects against mass destruction by a single disease or pest.

Eliminate invasives. Take advantage of the Village's reimbursement program.

Avoid toxic chemicals. Many lawn chemicals are downright deadly to some of our favorite woodland inhabitants. They poison insects (including butterflies) that are eaten by birds or small mammals. The chemicals quickly work their way up the food chain.

Consider a conservation easement. You can protect the future of your property and get income tax and real estate tax benefits.

Participate. Attend Village Board meetings or read Board minutes posted on the Village web site. Or stay current by getting on the RPC email list. Don't hesitate to offer suggestions. (Contact us if you'd like to be on our email list or offer suggestions.)

Support the RPC. We can't do it alone. We need your help!

Want more specific ideas? Preserving a woodland is relatively easy and inexpensive. Remember that the Village has a woodland protection ordinance. Avoiding the following common practices will get you well on your way.

Don't bring turf grass into wooded areas.
Don't remove small saplings and other understory plants.
Don't over-prune trees. Have major work done by a certified arborist or forester, to avoid serious damage or death to the tree. Cuts should not be flush and no more than one-quarter of limbs should be removed.
Don't clean up leaves and other organic materials that fall onto the woodland floor.
Don't permit invasive plant species, such as buckthorn and garlic mustard, to crowd out desirable trees and woodland plants.
Don't artificially amend the soil or change natural water patterns.
Don't employ widespread use of herbicides.
Don't allow ornamental ground cover to wander off into the woods.
Don't allow the ground beneath the tree leaf canopy, particularly of oaks, to be disturbed or to have heavy objects or equipment travel across or be placed on it.

If you wish to add (or increase the size of) a woodland area on your lot, you may do so quite easily. The Village has reimbursement programs to assist. Begin by discontinuing mowing and then break up or remove the grass growing beneath your trees. Other steps include:

Do determine the types of woods (e.g., wet, dry, shady, light, oak, maple) on your site, so you can manage consistently.
Do rid the area of invasive plants so that native trees and woodland plants can thrive.
Do take advantage of the Village's matching funds programs for buckthorn and garlic mustard removal.
Do allow nearly all organic matter (leaves, bark, branches) to remain where it falls.
Do plant seedlings and saplings appropriate to your soil, sunlight and water conditions. Click Here for some information about oaks.
Do take advantage of the Village's reforestation program.
Do mulch new plantings to help them retain moisture and grow strong roots.
Do protect saplings, young trees and native vegetation from rodent and deer damage.
Do allow nature to take over and watch your woodland grow.

Simply put, a woodland environment is just the opposite of the neat, heavily-promoted, well-manicured lawns prevalent in most of modern suburbia. It thrives on minimal care. Fallen trees and other natural debris not only enrich the soil, but also provide nourishment and shelter for forest wildlife of all types - mammals, birds, amphibians, and a huge number of beneficial microorganisms.

Restoring or recreating a forest habitat is a wonderful gift to yourself and future generations. Within as few as 5 to 15 years, you will be able to recognize and enjoy your very own re-emerging woodland.

What else can you do? Support us, your friends and neighbors of the RPC, who are working to improve Riverwoods, our sanctuary in the woods.

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(photograph of American Redstart by Ho Min Lim)

Riverwoods Preservation Council