Discovering Our Place in Nature
The Illinois Steward is an award-winning nature magazine that is grounded in the "land ethic" of Aldo Leopold. The Illinois Steward features articles about stewardship, conservation, preservation, and restoration of natural areas in Illinois. Article topics include native plants, wildlife, natural areas in Illinois, nature photography, and Illinois' historical past.
The Illinois Steward publishes 4 full-color issues each year, and annual subscriptions are $16.
Current Issue
Vol. 16, No. 1, Spring 2007
Includes articles on Spring Ephemerals, Daffodils, Pears, Melons, Alfred Goss, sedges, sustainable energy, energy security, exotic grasses as biofuels, and a FOCALPOINT on easy photography.
Read an Article
Searching for Sustainable Energy,
by The Editors from the Current Issue : Spring 2007.
Looking for a great graduation gift idea?
Give your loved ones the gift of NEW Illinois Steward Notecards!
Aldo Leopold, regarded as the "father of modern-day conservation biology," thought the limits of community ought to extend to all living organisms, the soil, the rocks, the water, the air … the whole "Land Community." Leopold understood that each of us - whether urban or rural - ultimately depends on this land community and thus should care for and respect it. Leopold's thinking was neither the utilitarian's view of stewardship solely for economic gain nor the elitist protectionist's view of the preservation of nature that almost excludes human use. His was an ethic of the "middle ground" that was equally at home in field and forest. His broad view of stewardship held every citizen responsible; this has been a guiding principle of The Illinois Steward magazine; "Stewardship is everyone's responsibility." This belief is reflected in the wide array of articles - from describing a sustainable farming operation, to a university researcher's work with biological control, to restoration work at a natural area.
