Citizens for Conservation (CFC) is a volunteer-based nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and restoring the natural environment that once covered northeastern Illinois. CFC is based in Barrington, Illinois where we work diligently to protect and restore 732 acres across 14 preserves, in addition to supporting regional restoration initiatives.
CFC proactively preserves and restores land with the help of dedicated volunteers and donors who want to protect the health and beauty of the land for future generations. We also work within the community and the region to foster good environmental ethics and practices. Our efforts benefit native plants and animals and enhance ecosystem services such as groundwater protection, flood and erosion control, and carbon storage.
If you are inspired by what we do, please join us. We welcome you to get to know us better, as well as help us make the world around us a little better.
Our History
The Beginning of Citizens for Conservation
The Barrington area is known today for its open landscapes and rich natural character—but this did not happen by chance. It is the result of thoughtful action by community members who recognized early on that the land they loved needed protection.
In 1970, local residents came together out of growing concern for the impact of suburban growth on Barrington’s environment. Lakes, streams, wetlands, savannas, and prairies were increasingly threatened, and with them the native plants and wildlife that depended on these habitats. Without intervention, development risked permanently altering the natural fabric of the region.
Determined to protect what remained and restore what had been lost, these residents took action. In 1971, Citizens for Conservation (CFC) was formally incorporated as Barrington’s own nonprofit conservation organization.
From the beginning, CFC’s purpose was clear: to protect and improve quality of life in the Barrington area through land preservation and restoration, stewardship of natural resources, and education within the community. This commitment was captured in the mission that continues to guide our work today:
Saving living space for living things through protection, restoration, and stewardship of land, conservation of natural resources, education, and community involvement.
Tax ID: 23-7106675