Natural Divisions of Illinois

A common classification scheme used in Illinois, developed by John Schwegman and coworkers, recognizes fourteen Natural Divisions, plus Lake Michigan-- geographic regions having similar topography, soils, bedrock, plants, and animals. Natural Divisions are an important tool for recognizing biological variation across Illinois, and organizing regional needs, objectives and strategies of the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan.

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Illinois Land Cover

This Illinois Land Cover map was produced in response to a need for current, detailed information about Illinois land, the raw material of the state. This land cover information for twenty-three identified categories is essential to ensure wise land-use decisions and good land stewardship.

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The C2000 Ecosystem Partnerships 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. More impressive is the fact that 98% of the state's citizens live in an Ecosystem Partnership area. For more information, please go to: http://dnr.state.il.us/orep/c2000/ecosystem

Based on original work by Robert Bailey, U.S.D.A. Forest Service, ecoregions were modified by TNC in cooperation with the network of Natural Heritage Programs. The Lower 48 United States is divided into 64 ecoregions, eight of which include part of Illinois: the Central Tallgrass Prairie, Great Lakes, Interior Low Plateau, Mississippi River Alluvial Plain, North Central Till Plain, Ozarks, Prairie-Forest Border, and Upper East Gulf Coast Plain.

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Bird Conservation Regions

Parts of four Bird Conservation Regions, as defined by the North American Bird Conservation Initiative, occur in Illinois. In this context, Illinois shares a natural affinity with areas ranging from Eastern Nebraska to Central Wisconsin, Eastern Kentucky and Southern Louisiana.

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Seven sources of information are considered simultaneously in this map. Most of these sources are measures of biological diversity or importance, and show a high degree of agreement.

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Proposed Conservation Opportunity Areas

At workshops for partner agencies and organizations in the Autumn of 2004, participants were given five markers to indicate areas of the state that could be “Conservation Opportunity Areas” (COAs). COAs are described as locations where (1) a significant wildlife or habitat resource occurs (or could reasonably occur with restoration), (2) one or more organizations are willing to implement conservation actions and evaluate the results, (3) funding is (or could be) available, and (4) a specific, plausible conservation objective can be articulated. Participants were encouraged to use at least one marker to indicate areas where there is currently little conservation work, but an opportunity or
need for greater action. The selection of COAs is expected to be an on-going process as resource needs change, partnerships develop, and funding opportunities arise.