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The State of Illinois faces challenges in its effort to manage its natural resources and preserve and enhance biological resources in a landscape that is 90 percent privately owned Illinois land with more than 75 percent of the state in Illinois farmland. Broad-based, multi-disciplinary solutions to ecological problems were explored by the Water Resources and Land Use Priorities Task Force and Illinois' First and Second Conservation Congresses and their realistic, goal-driven recommendations are bringing the dawn of a new age to land management in Illinois.

Participants in these public involvement processes believed that it was possible to have and preserve the natural resources of Illinois through ecosystem-based management and through protection and enhancement strategies that are matched to each ecosystems scale.

While efforts to preserve and enhance Illinois' natural resources have traditionally been focused in nature preserves, parks and fish and wildlife areas owned by public agencies and dedicated to public recreation, protection of landscape scale resources requires a broad involvement from private landowners and community interests and a collaborative role for the State in promoting conservation efforts. Two key criteria were established for new programs designed to preserve the natural resources of Illinois land:

They must be voluntary, and based on incentives rather than government regulation.
They must be broad-based, locally-organized efforts, incorporating the interests and participation of local communities, and of private, public and corporate Illinois landowners
It was further asserted that the private sector stood to gain economically from such programs and implementation is a joint responsibility. In response to these recommendations, landmark legislation was passed (without a dissenting vote) by the General Assembly in 1995 initiating Conservation 2000, (C2000) a comprehensive, six year, $100 million initiative, designed to take a holistic, long-term approach to protecting and managing Illinois' natural resources. With overwhelmingly positive support for the program, in 1999, House Bill 1746 was signed into law in August of 1999 extending the C2000 Program until the year 2009.

In 2008, House Bill 1780 was signed into law as Public Act 95-0139, extending the program to 2021 as Partners for Conservation.

The Partners for Conservation Program funds programs at IDNR, Illinois Department of Agriculture, and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

Below are links to Partners for Conservation resources within IDNR and its two state agency partners.

Ecosystems Program


The purpose of the Ecosystems Program is to integrate the interests and participation of local communities and private, public and corporate Illinois landowners to enhance and protect watersheds through ecosystem-based management. The Ecosystems Program is funded through Partners for Conservation (PFC), a comprehensive long-term approach to protecting and managing Illinois' natural resources. The Ecosystems Program is a voluntary, broad-based incentive program.

The Ecosystems Program consists of four components

Assessment and Monitoring
Integrated Technical Assistance
Ecosystem Project, Planning, and Support Grants
Ecosystem Interpretation and Education
The Ecosystems Program is made up of Ecosystem Partnerships, which are coalitions of local stakeholders -- private landowners, businesses, scientists, environmental organizations, recreational enthusiasts, and policy makers. They are united by a common interest in the natural resources of their areas' watershed. Partnership designation brings financial and technical support, which is integral in addressing watershed concern. Currently, there are 41 Ecosystem Partnerships covering 84% of Illinois land. More impressive is the fact that 98% of the state's citizens live in an Ecosystem Partnership area.

To date more than 70,500 acres of Illinois hunting land have been restored. Nearly 5,600 acres have been protected through conservation easements or simple acquisition. More than $34.9 million in project grants have been awarded. Recipients have provided another $33.4 million in match. Nearly a half million citizens of all ages have been educated on natural resource protection.


Illinois: Home to twelve million people. Also home to fifty-eight other mammal species, 383 different resident and migrant birds, 104 types of reptiles and amphibians, 174 species of fish, and some 27,000 types of insects, mussels, and other invertebrates. Many Illinoisans regularly encounter the states more common wildlife, such as the fox squirrel, the cardinal, the mallard duck, and the American toad But a resident could spend his or her entire life in this state and never see other animals, like the elusive bobcat or the uncommon osprey. Each of these species, whether visible or secretive, common or rare, shares with us this 55,645-square ­ mile patch of earth that we call Illinois land.

Some people seem unaware that they share the state with any wild creatures. Most residents, however, notice and even take keen interest in the wildlife around their homes, farms, and local parks. For many citizens, no social engagement or sporting event can compare to the heart-pounding thrill of hunting and bagging the first white-tailed deer or Bobwhite quail; no nature broadcast can replace the experience of falling asleep to a symphony of frogs on a spring night or the awe of seeing a bald eagle soaring. Many people find that few artificial creations can rival the delicate beauty of a tiny hummingbird or the intricate construction of a spider's web. If we allow it, wildlife give an unparalleled inner pleasure. Illinois whitetail deer hunting land/property for sale.

Wild creatures, like the other natural resources on our planet, have intrinsic value. Humans have always seemed compelled to justify the existence of wildlife in terms of their value to us. In case their mere existence and aesthetic qualities are not enough, consider these facts:

The Illinois economy realizes nearly $1.1 billion every year from expenditures related to watching wildlife.
Hunters spend nearly $150 million a year pursuing game. Illinois hunting land for sale.
More than $550 million is spent each year on recreational fishing, and the annual retail value of commercial fishing is $4 million.
Wildlife-oriented recreation plays an important economic role in many depressed and declining small communities.
Beyond economic impacts, there are less tangible but equally important benefits of wildlife. The vast array of vertebrate and invertebrate animal species that inhabit Illinois land depend, directly or indirectly, on one another. Removing any one of those species may result in disproportionately high numbers of another. Even if we were to consider solely our own comfort, health, and ability to produce food and fiber, preserving a balanced community of wildlife is essential. Certain species prey on others that are considered to be agricultural and forest pests: red-tailed hawks and great-horned owls efficiently harvest mice and voles, which can cause significant damage in crop fields. Bluebirds and Baltimore orioles extract millions of caterpillars and other invertebrates from our croplands and forests. Other animals control the abundance of a species that is considered a physical pest to humans. One bat can consume up to 3,000 mosquitoes in a night! Wildlife are vital to the survival of the human species.

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Why Focus on Habitat?
Humans, like every species with which they share the earth, are inseparably tied to their habitat, or living space. But humans have the advantage of being able to alter their habitat to a greater extent than other animals. If people find that something is missing or doesn't suit them in their living environment, they create the missing element, rearrange the landscape, or eliminate the "problem." Wild creatures, on the other hand, cannot alter their living conditions so significantly. Many cannot change their particular habitat at all. Naturalist Aldo Leopold illustrated this point in his popular book Game Management: "The essential difference between a deer and a man is that man builds farms, factories, and cities to provide himself with the elements of an habitable range, whereas a deer must accept the random assortment laid down by nature and modified by human action, or move elsewhere." Having a suitable living environment is essential for any species to survive. If wildlife cannot find good habitat, they must go elsewhere or cease to exist.

On Illinois land, we humans have taken nearly maximum advantage of our ability to change our surroundings-to alter our habitat. Many would argue that our actions have made life better for humans, but there is little argument about our effects on much of Illinois wildlife. While the populations of some species, such as Canada geese and red-winged blackbirds, have actually increased as a result of the human-modified environment, many other species have been nega­tively impacted. In fact, our landscape manipulation has pushed some Illinois wildlife, like the prairie chicken, nearly out of existence. Habitat degradation and destruction by humans has been the single biggest cause of the decline of wildlife populations on our Illinois land. Our ability to change habitat must be coupled with the responsibility to consider the needs of wildlife if wild creatures are to survive. And though an extinct species can never be revived, some of the damage we have done to our plant and animal communities can be undone. While we have the ability to destroy habitat, we also have the capacity to restore and protect the wildlife habitats that still exist, and to reconstruct suitable habitats on land we've rendered inhospitable for Illinois wildlife.

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Why Focus on Illinois private lands?
Local, state, and federal governments and nonprofit conservation groups own 750,000 acres of Illinois wildlife habitat as scattered parcels throughout the state.

Much of the privately held Illinois land in our state is rural acreage man­aged by farmers. Corporations also own thousands of acres. The remainder of Illinois' private land belongs to schools, churches, small businesses-and every citizen who owns a yard or lot.
Whether you own one acre or one thousand of Illinois land, the decisions you make and the actions you take regarding your property affect the non­human species that reside or visit there. Every piece of unpaved land in Illinois has the potential to support some wildlife. To be responsible stewards during our tenure, we consider wildlife in all our land­use decisions. No matter how much Illinois land you own, your ownership is temporary. How you manage that land while it is in your care will have an impact long after you are gone. Illinois hunting land/property for sale.

What about citizens who don't own Illinois land or who live in the city? They can still effect positive change for wildlife. You may be on the board of a church that occupies two acres of land, neatly mowed but with little habitat for wildlife. Or you may sit on a county board that makes many land-use decisions. You may be a school-board member or a teacher at a school with idle land that could become a habitat demonstration plot, benefitting both wildlife and students. You may belong to a country club that could improve its Illinois hunting property for wildlife. Even more significantly, you may work for a company or agency that owns Illinois hunting property, perhaps even large amounts, that could be improved for wildlife.

For more information about the Illinois Conservation Wildlife Plan, please contact:

James Renn
Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plan Coordinator
Illinois Department of Natural Resources - Office of Resource Conservation
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, Illinois 62702-1271
Telephone: 217-783-6384
FAX: 217-785-2438
E-mail: james.renn@illinois.gov



Issues for Illinois Wildlife

How You Can Help

Management Considerations

Creating and Protecting
Suggested Reading


Here we discuss specific habitat types and what you can do to attract wildlife to your Illinois property. Whether you are interested in waterfowl, songbirds, deer, gamebirds, or any other species, big or small, there are sections to help you.

Grasslands can help you establish and maintain grassland habitat that will attract species such as


Cottontail rabbit
Bobwhite quail
Eastern bluebird
Ring-necked pheasant

Woodlands gives you guidance on improving and establishing woody habitats that provide food and cover for species such as


White-tailed deer
Great-horned owl
Ovenbird
Bobcat

Wetlands can help you provide wetland habitats that attract a variety of Illinois wildlife, including


Wood duck
Mink
Bullfrog
Green-backed heron

Croplands can help you make Illinois farmland more habitat-friendly for species such as


Red fox
American kestrel
Red-tailed hawk
Fox squirrel

Backyards can help you make areas around your home attractive to Illinois wildlife such as


Cardinal
American goldfinch
Gray squirrel
Tiger swallowtail

Illinois hunting land/property for sale. Buy Illinois deer farmland. Whitetail deer ground