The forest preserves in Chicago are being cut down and burned by the Forest Preserve District (FPD) itself in order to turn them "back into" what some believe used to be prairie.

These are beautiful and healthy forests which are being destroyed in the name of removing "invasive species" of trees. Some of these invaders have been here for over a hundred years. The list of trees to be destroyed is extensive, and includes poplar, elm, birch, black cherry, aspen, gray dogwood, green ash, and willow. Oak is one of the few trees to be spared.

Once the forests are "restored" to being a prairie, they will have to be burned yearly, and require regular maintenance. Some of these preserves are located around residential areas, and the burns have driven deer and other wildlife into the city.

Join this group if you don't see how it's better to manipulate nature than to leave it alone, and if you think that Chicago's Forest Preserve District should find something better to do with their time than cutting down and burning the forest. We'll meet up to enjoy the Forest Preserves, and discuss what can be done to stop them from being destroyed.