Echo Incorporated expresses its gratitude this season for the ongoing efforts to care for local forests and is contributing resources that further support restoration initiatives. The company has donated 27 pieces of equipment to Friends of the Forest Preserves, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving natural areas across Cook County. The donation will support crews working to remove invasive species and nurture the return of native ecosystems in the region.
This contribution will equip three field crews with professional-grade tools to remove invasive species, clear overgrown brush and make space for native plants to flourish. Friends of the Forest Preserves leads year-round restoration efforts throughout Cook County’s forest preserves, engaging crews and volunteers in protecting and enhancing these natural spaces through hands-on restoration, stewardship and community involvement.
Recent reports show that invasive species like honeysuckle and buckthorn have overtaken nearly 80 percent of Chicago-area forests, putting biodiversity and the long-term vitality of native plants and wildlife at risk. With Echo’s donation, Friends of the Forest Preserves can continue its mission to restore balance to these areas.
“As a company that’s been part of this community for decades, we’re deeply committed to giving back to the people and places that make the Chicagoland region so special,” said Harold Redman, CEO of Echo Incorporated. “Friends of the Forest Preserves is doing the hard, essential work of preserving our natural spaces for future generations, and we’re proud to support their mission with the professional-grade tools needed to make an impact.”
Echo’s headquarters have been located in Lake Zurich since 1985 and the company has held a presence in the Chicagoland area for more than 50 years. Its commitment to sustainability goes beyond the products it manufactures and into its operations, where one of the largest solar panel installations in the state provides approximately 38% of its headquarters’ energy use. This donation reflects Echo’s dedication to environmental stewardship and to supporting the community it calls home.
Friends of the Forest Preserves engages local residents with hands-on conservation work, offering opportunities for people to learn about native species and take part in restoration firsthand. To date, the organization has protected over 10,000 acres through grassroots advocacy, completed over 550,000 hours of on-the-ground habitat restoration and created 2,600 jobs for adults and teens through its Conservation Corps program. The new tools will help staff and volunteers have reliable equipment to continue that effort throughout the seasons ahead.
“Friends of the Forest Preserves is incredibly grateful to build this partnership with Echo. Working with a local company to improve our local ecosystems is what the Friends community is all about,” said Benjamin Cox, executive director of Friends of the Forest Preserves. “Fall and winter are the times that our Conservation Corps crews shift to cutting and burning brush. Crew members get a lot of work done to help bring sunlight back to the ground layer for flowers and grasses, while gaining essential job skills and time on power tools.”
By pairing locally made power equipment tools with locally driven restoration efforts, Echo and Friends of the Forest Preserves are working together to ensure Chicagoland’s forest preserves remain healthy, vibrant and accessible places for communities to explore and connect with nature for generations to come.
For more information or how to get involved, visit here.
