Open lands are crucial for clean water, species diversity, recreation, hunting and healthy lifestyles, but Illinois lags behind other Midwestern states in investments in land preservation. More than 90 percent of Illinois’ original wetlands and an astonishing 99.99 percent of original Illinois prairie have already been lost. In 2004, Illinois ranked second-to-last among Midwestern states for percent of land protected in state-owned recreation sites. The state further ranked dead last among those states in number of recreation acres per capita.
While the state’s current preservation programs are supported through dedicated funding sources, those funding sources have been subject to periodic legislative raids. In addition, the state has only inconsistently invested in land preservation through its capital program. A long-term commitment to adequate preservation funding, would provide a much-needed boost to conservation efforts in Illinois.
Illinois is working to:
