Key issues facing trees in Kane County and throughout the region will be the topic of a Fox River Ecosystem Partnership program Wednesday in St. Charles.

The program takes place from noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016, at the Hickory Knolls Nature Center, 3795 Campton Hills Drive, St. Charles.

Melissa Custic, Chicago Region Trees Initiative coordinator at Morton Arboretum, will discuss this collaborative partnership for coordinated action on key issues facing trees. It is the largest such initiative in the country, with leading organizations and agencies from across the seven-county metropolitan region working together.

CRTI is leveraging funding, knowledge skills, and expertise to build a healthier, more diverse regional forest.

Custic will provide an overview of what is being done throughout the region, and how people and communities can help. The initiative looks at the value of all trees, whether they are in a park, streetscape or natural area. The public is welcome to attend this free program, and reservations are not required. This program is being hosted by FREP member St. Charles Park District.

The Fox River Ecosystem Partnership was established in 1997 representing the entire Fox River Watershed in Illinois, covering 1,720 square miles situated within the counties of Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, McHenry and Will. FREP membership includes individuals, governments, organizations and businesses that meet regularly “to promote, preserve, protect and enhance the natural, cultural, economic and recreational resources of Illinois’ Fox River and its watershed.”

For more information about this program and the Fox River Ecosystem Partnership, please visit FREP’s website at foxriverecosystem.org.

SOURCE: Fox River Ecosystem Partnership news release