News of the Wild

“Great Lakes Forever” Initiative Launched

More than 33 million people and a rich, unique diversity of plants and animals call the Great Lakes and their surrounding lands and waterways home. Yet the lakes are vulnerable to a host of threats, including contamination, invasive species, water exportation, and unchecked development.

In order to draw attention to these threats, Biodiversity Project, a Madison, Wisconsin-based nonprofit environmental education and communications group, is partnering with Shedd Aquarium and other organizations to launch the “Great Lakes Forever” public education initiative in Chicago this summer. “We’re not just trying to achieve a short-term victory,” says Jane Elder, executive director for Biodiversity Project, “we’re trying to build a deeper constituency for the lengthy effort that it will take to restore, protect, and care for one of the world’s largest freshwater ecosystems. We hope that this campaign will encourage individuals, families and communities to become more engaged in the future of their lakes.”

Melanie Napoleon, manager of Shedd Aquarium’s Great Lakes Awareness Campaign, notes, “We’re involved with Great Lakes Forever because the Great Lakes identify our region. In Chicago, we enjoy the benefits of the lakes and so, naturally, it’s our responsibility to help protect them. They really are a gift of nature and they are at the heart of the ecosystem that we rely on for life. We owe it to ourselves and future generations to get involved in protecting this remarkable resource.”

Watch for ads and visit greatlakesforever.org for information about the Great Lakes ecosystem and simple tips everyone can take to help protect this precious resource.