Our Mission

In order to protect all living things, the Environmental Defenders is dedicated to the preservation and improvement of the natural environment in McHenry County. As a grass roots organization, we are committed to building sound ecological relationships between people and the natural world that supports all life.

To achieve the aim of environmental preservation and improvement, we provide the community with educational programs and volunteer action on pollution prevention, sustainable land use and energy and natural resource conservation.

We advocate policies which protect drinking water supplies and conserve land for open space and agriculture. We demonstrate waste reduction through recycling drives and reuse centers. We encourage natural resource protection through native landscaping and stream protection programs.

We envision a planet that is healthy for future generations and understand that decisions today affect everyone’s tomorrow. We understand and work to educate everyone residing in our county about the local connection to global realities and how global trends affect the well-being of humans and all species, locally. From the threats of global climate change, habitat loss and polluted watersheds to soil health and plastic reduction, it is vital that we advocate for best management practices with regard to decisions that affect our shared environment.