It takes the work of many people to conserve and protect our natural landscapes. From individuals to corporations, we all rely on our natural landscapes—and the rewards of protecting those lands can be reaped by all of us. Corporate citizenship contributes to healthy lands and healthy economies in Illinois as well as globally.

The Nature Conservancy in Illinois has a strong history of corporate partnership. Caterpillar Inc., through its Caterpillar Foundation, partnered with The Nature Conservancy to guide the protection of the world’s imperiled freshwater systems and transform the way large working river systems are preserved and protected. Caterpillar’s generous $12 million gift, the largest outright gift ever made to the Conservancy, changed the way the Conservancy has been able to work around the world. This gift is helping to protect and restorethe Upper Mississippi River Basin, and freshwater river systems around the world. This project, known as the Great Rivers Partnership, affects nearly 550 million people on four continents, all of whom rely on the freshwater systems where the Conservancy is now working.

The Nature Conservancy’s work, through the Great Rivers Partnership, has also benefited from corporate collaboration with IBM, which brings expertise in science, modeling and understanding of complex systems to the Conservancy’s goals of improving water quality, conservation and resource management. Together, the Conservancy and IBM initially implemented this project in the Paraguay-Paraná river system in Brazil, which covers almost 1 million square miles. IBM has worked with The Nature Conservancy and key partners and stakeholders to provide access to data on climate, rainfall, land cover, vegetation and biodiversity. The partnership has also created tools to facilitate more sustainable management of the world’s great rivers, such as simulation and three-dimensional visualization.

Corporate partnerships have local impact, as well. The Tellabs Foundation, a separate entity established by Tellabs, Inc., provides support for grassland protection and stewardship for four Conservancy grassland projects, including the Nachusa Grasslands Preserve in Illinois. Nachusa’s rich prairies are home to rare animals like Blanding’s turtles as well as 600 native plant species. One of the largest prairies in the state, Nachusa is a living model for the restoration of these natural areas.

These conservation projects started with one conversation, but they are sustained with your help. Join the conversation. Learn more about corporate partnerships at The Nature Conservancy.