This May, Plants of Concern was awarded a Matching Awards Program (MAP) Grant from the National Forest Foundation to facilitate rare plant monitoring with tribal youth and other participants in community science at the Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois. This award will fund the work of Chris Benda, Southern Illinois Coordinator for Plants of Concern, providing data to Forest Service staff to inform adaptive management of the forest.  

Chris Benda (bottom left) alongside the 2025 Indian Youth Service Corps. Photo by Chris Benda

Beyond land management, the project also seeks to collaborate with the established Indian Youth Service Corps program at the SNF to aid in connecting tribal youth and other community scientists with natural areas and introducing them to potential career options in conservation.

The Shawnee National Forest is home to the ancestral lands of eleven different Native American tribes, among them the Kaskaskia, Cahokia, Mitchigamia, Peoria and Tamaroa. Click here to learn more about Tribal Relations at the Shawnee National Forest.

Keep an eye out for a recap of the project on our newsletter and our socials in Spring 2026!

Chris Benda (far right) with 2025 Indian Youth Service Corps. Photo by Chris Benda