One family’s love of the land becomes our newest wildlife reserve

Some gifts can’t be measured in dollars. They are measured in vision, love, and the choice to protect something meaningful for the future. That is exactly what the Gutierrez family has given to Southern Illinois.

HeartLands Conservancy recently received a 15-acre forest donation in Fayette County near Vandalia from the daughters of Michele and Manuel Gutierrez. This forest has been part of the family for generations. While much of the property was a working farm, this particular section was intentionally left wild to provide habitat for wildlife. The daughters made this donation to honor their parents’ love of nature and their desire to see the land remain undeveloped.

The forest itself is remarkable. Towering oak and hickory trees rise above a rich understory of wildflowers. Birds, like yellow-rumped warblers and wild turkeys, sing from the branches. The forest also quietly helps maintain the health of the Kaskaskia River. Its trees filter water, reduce erosion, keeping the water cleaner and clearer.

The land could have been sold many times over. The family received repeated offers from developers. They chose a different path. By protecting this forest, the Gutierrez family has ensured that future generations will experience the quiet beauty, the thriving wildlife, and the peace that has defined this land for decades.

Thanks to families like the Gutierrezes, forests, rivers, and wildlife in Southern Illinois have a secure future. Your support can help that future continue to grow, one acre at a time.

Land Donation

The preservation of the Gutierrez Family Forest was made possible through a gift of land from the family. Land donations can take many different forms, such as through a will.

“We work with willing landowners to conserve southern Illinois’ special places. Sometimes, families conserve farmland that will remain in private ownership. Other times, we conserve the land as a wildlife habitat, such as with this one. When appropriate, we establish trails and places for the community to access nature. We also work with local villages and communities, like Edwardsville, Belleville, and Swansea, to ensure that local parks and access to nature are a priority,” stated Mary Vandevord, President & CEO.

Need for more conservation

The 15-acre woodlannd now joins 63other lands in thirteen counties in southern Illinois conserved by HeartLands Conservancy. “Many of these areas have less than 3% of the land protected for farming, wildlife habitat, and connecting to nature. We are seeing landowners interested in partnering with us to change that because they know how important their legacy is to their community.”