U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Aid Project T-2-P-1Ope

Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Illinois Digital Environment for Access to Learning and Scholarship Repository

-: cza~ Illinois spans nearly 400 miles from north to south. Across this range of '4titude, the state hosts tremendous biologjcal divers~ from Ice Age relicts like the Iowa Pleistocene snail on rocky outcrops in the northwestern corner of the state, to bird-voiced trtef,ogs in 1, 000-year old cypress swamps at the southern tip. In between live 12 million people, reaping the benefits of fertile soils. 26, 000 miles of streams and rivers, and other nll'tUral treasures. Changes in wildlife and habinu have been a mixed bag of shortcoming> and successes in recent decades. Bald englcs ;md river otters, once endangered, are now thriving. Meanwhile, greater pro.irie-chlck.en~thc signarun: bird of rhe callgrass prairie-barely hang nn in the Prairie Stare. Water quality and many fish populations have improved d.ram:iric;nlly, bm a quarter of our &eshwarer mussels are cxcinc1 or extirpated. Game animals suc:h as white-tailed Jeer. wild turkeys, and Canada geese nrc doing well, whHe bobwhite are not. The amou nt of forest in Ulinois has doubled over che pasrcenrury. but, in .;pite o( dfortS like the Conservation Reserve Program, the stare has less than half as much grassland roday a.s in 1950. The Mississippi Flyway and Lt.kc Michigan shoreline continue tc.> bring spectacular concemrarions of migratory birds to tllinois, a.n<l the srru:e has long been a leader in iden· tifying and conserving high-qu:iliry natural areas. Invasive planes, animals and disease$ continue ro auivc, barming narivc wildlife, degrading namral areas. :md complicaring conserva-rion effons. In 1994, the Teaming With Wild.life coalicion formed co secure funding for comprdiensive conservation. The Conservation and Rcinvesnnenc Act (CARA) was proposed as an excise rax on outdoor gear, anti then a~ a use of olT6hore oil and gas production royalcie.~. In 200 I, rhe Sr.ate Wildlife Gr.i.m (SWG} program was created to provide funding for non-game wildlife conservation, and. was alloc."lred ro stares on a formula basis. As a condicion of receiving SWG fund-ing, Congress charget.l each state wirh developing, by Ocrober 2005, a comprehensive wildlife conservation plan focused on species in greare.~t conservarion nc1:d and their associated habi-tats. The cooperative efforts of conservation organizations aml the public rcsulre<l in the Illinois Wildlife At.,:ion lllan, defin-ing a vi~ion for conservation success. The Illinois WilclJife Action Plan applies the principles of conservation biology to a coordi-nated set of on-the-ground actions. Tiie Wildlife Action Plan begnn by considering all wildlife and i1wolving everyone wiLb an inceresr in wildlife conservation: conserva-tionists, sportsmen, sdcntisc.s, and members of the con'IDlu-nity. All forms of wildlife-aquatic and ccrrcsrcial, vertcbr:ues and invem:braces. endangered sped~. game and non-game-are included in rhc WildJife Aetion Plan, by focusing on the hal>iror they need, rather than a cumbersome specics-by-spedes approach. M<>re than 800 people willingly assisred wich deve!Qping d1c plan through workshops, contributing information and ideas, and olfu:ing critical reviews. The Illinois Wildlife Action Plan meets the d1allenge of link-ing rerourccs with rhc diver~e conservation efforts of various orgauizations and individuals iruo a straregic framework that effectively protects species. The Illinois Wildlife Action Plan is a proactive and dynamic process. B) itlencifying wildlife with dt'Clining popul:1rions or special needs, conservation will be more cffecrive--and lc.~s contr()ve.rsial~chan if such efforts wait unr1l the populations become endangered and very cl.if. 6cuk and costly co recover. This philo~ophy h simply stated as "keeping common species common." fhe plan is being updated conrinuousl) JS we learn more ahour our natu-ral resources, mnnimr progress, evaluate effectiveness, an<l respond to changi.ng conditions. The Illinois Wildlife Action Plan defines a vision for conservation su.ccess. fhc goals defined in rhe Wildlife Acrion Plan are based on the dlvcrsiry and abun-dance of wildlife that mainralJ'I the state's biodiversity for the long term. and s~uisfy our recreational and economic needs for angling. hunrjng, trapping. and wilJlife viewing. These wildlife objecrives :1re rransbted into the habica.c needed ro rupport ~hem-how much is needed. the: quality that should be maincained, and locacions where ir will have the greatest bc:ne.fir. The vision of the TUinois Wildlife At.'tion 111.w (ulnJls our responsibiUt)• to conserve wiJdJjfe and che places they live for future gc:neratlon~. The Illinois Wudlife Action Plan is a science-based approach to identifying conservation pri-orities and crafting solutions. Scientists compiled and an:ilr1.eJ an enormous amount of dara to assess ·rhe location, size. and condiaon of all ~If lllinois's wildlife and habitat. Illinois Wildlife-An Accounting Wildlife Total Speciies in Threatened number greatest need or of endangered conservation• Musse Ir. 61** 29 2-4 Sno11s 170 25 2 Insects About 17,000 347 12 Crustaceans 207 22 10 Fish 187 80 31 J. Amchibions 41 14 8 Rec tiles 60 23 16 Birch 300"** 83 32 Mammals 59 20 9 Totals Abou~ 18,000 638 144 • Bos.ad on seven criteria Including: low or declining populo. tlons, dependence on a rore or vulnerable habitat, and use-lulness as on indicator of the heolth of o community or hobitot. • • An additional 19 species ore extinct ot have been exlirpoled from llllnois • • .. Approximate number oF regularly occurring species1 Including vagrants and occidentols, .432 species hove been documented. Using a consistent set of criteria, sciemiru identified spt'-cies in greatest need or conservacion-,hose species or wildlife with low or declining popularions, or indicative of rhc health .l.nd diversity of Illinois' wildlife and habitat. In much of nlinois, agriculrure and developmem limit .iva.llable habitat. The condicicm of most habitacs is degrad-ing due to fragmentation, invasive species, absence of nacur.1.l disturbances such as fire, and other fucrors. Invasive species m parricular n_re an increasing problem, and conservationisrs need new prevention and conrrol root~ to :.u~~fully meet rhc challenge. Changes in rhc human popul:u.ion u.ffect how we conserve wil<llife: how we deal with urban sprawl, provide access co namral areas and open space, and accommodate t.ha.ng~ in rccre;1tional prcfercnc~. fhe acrions described in the Wildlif~ Acrion Plan empha-size a broad spcqrum of natural resource benefits beyond addressing the challenges facing wildlife and habirar: clc:an watt'.r, soil conservation, human h~.Uth and safety, economic diversity, and Sltstaimibllity. The ac:rion.~ range from intcrscare projects that enhance shared resources such as our largt> bor-dering dvcrs and the Grear Lakes to improvemenrs at specific natural areas. With an e.."<cellenr ncrwork of un.ivcrsicics, museums, the Illinois Natural History Survey. and other instirutions, lllinois hac; a knowledge of Its biological resource.~ rbac is envied by most other soucs. Still, there are gaps in the knowledge of some species and habitats, and new ideas need co be cultivated m address chronic and emerging problems. Moniloring wildlife responses through protocols described in the Action Plan will ensure rhar conservation actions conrrib-ure to our natural resource goals. Through adapr.ive manage-ment and a dynamic Wild.life Acrion Plan, new challenges and opporcunici~ thar arist will be addressed quickly. The Illinois Wildlife Action Plan tailors our actions to different scales, and matches conser-vation partners with sources of support. Every acrion is linked to a problem it is designed co solve and focused 01:1 a 1:1atural resource objective ir will help achieve. The next seep is co determine the besr cool for each job, wherher it be a program supporn:d hy a sr:m: or fedeml agen-cy, local land prorecrion, or habitat management. Knowing the partners who are already wodci.ng at each scale, or in each area, the lllinois Wildlife Action Plan marches them with the sources of support rhey need--cquipmc:nt, personnef, fund-ing-to rurn the vision for wildlife conservation in 11linois into an on-the-ground reality. Al rill'. starewi<le levd, ac.,;ions are grouped imo seven over-lapping campaigns, based on hahirats and common issues: Fan11/m1d a11d Pmirie Canpaig11-Expancling and improving grassland, shrub and wetland habitats in agri-cultural landscapes, with economic incentives and techn.ical assistance for privare land owners. Forests Campaign-fmproving wildlife habitat, ecological integrity, and economic value of the state's forest~ and savan-n.as through appropriate, sustainable forestry praccices. Wetlands Campaig11-Rcstocing and enhancing werla.nds for wildlife habitar, reduced Aoodin~ and improved water quality. Sh'Cnms Campaign-Reduce sedimentation and enhance biodivcrsii;y by protecting riparian areas, scabilizing meam banks, and repairing in~strerun babir.ac. Invasive Species Campaign-Working together co prevent, conmin and manage invasive planes, animals and diseases rhar threaten natural are.as, wUdlife and human healcl1. Land and ~rer Srewardship Campaign- Providing pub-lic and private land own~ wh:b che knowledge and cools to best manage healthy forests, ~sslands, werlands, screams and lakes wid1 abundant wildlift. Gren, Cities Camp1Jig11-Making clcic.~ and towns more livable through smart growth. protecting open space, and providjng wHdlife recreation opporrun.icies. THE 11.UNOIS WIIDL!Ff ACTION Pl..4N 5 for each of the 14 Natural Divis.ions of l1Unoi.s--cilsti11crive regions wich similar geologic hiscory and biologi-cal ft:ant~biologim idenrific:d chc key habirat typ~ and fish and wildlife species unique or imporram to the region. Recc,gnit.ing r.l1at issues vary l'cgionally and that actions need ro be ccmcred on regional nee<h. the upproacb~~ oudined for cad1 11:1.turnl division reflect the divc~ity of lllinois. Sample from the Western Forest-Prairie Natural Division Natural Communities Savannas Barrens Hill Prairies Emphasis Wilcllife Bewick's wren Slender gloss lizard Northern bobwhite The Illinois Wildlife Action Plan Using a philosophy of "keeping common species common." sdenrisu, spornmen. conse.rvationisu;, and members of the communicy worked rogcrhcr un rhc: Wil<ltifc Acnon Plan, advocating cn:ativc and sensible solutions. By focusing on wildlife and natural areas before ptobbns become severe. the Action Pl~1 is a cost-cffecrive, long-term approach. Conserving and restoring naruraJ places will ensure clean wacer for people and wildlife. Pollution and diseases affect-ing wildlife, mch as DDT and rhc Wesc Nile Virus, are often early indicators of problems chat, if left unchecked. can affect people too. Wildlife, and cb.~ places they live, are imponaru to us, our Family traditions. and future generations. They're worth che investment. Development of the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan was sup-porced by Smee Wildlife Grant Program funding (Federal Aid Project T-2-P-JJ. For more information and copy of the complete Illinois Wtldlifc Action Plan, please visit: http://dnr.stacc.il .us. Crcdi1;5 Land cover Fonm ~~Open woodland ~/--~ Wetland/Lake/Pond ::::-----Urban/Other ~ Agriculture Ol.$ign-LyM l fawlmuon Smith, Offic.:c uf Omtinuing F..Jucat.iun, Umvcn11y of ll1inois ac Urbana-Cluomr3isn, J>huio)-llidmrd D~y/ Dayb~ Imagery, ~r inM:tJ, 1up 111 bonom I. 3, 4. 'i. r, 2 bnumn lcfl; I'· I top right. tnidtlle ~nter. bono1n center. p. <, mp left. mp ttntcr; Michael R. Jdfon:ls, cover in.set, top to hotrom 2. p. 2 bmtnm cenu:t, lxmom right, p. '11up tl!lll~r. wp lcf1, b<m11m lc:Ji, huimm r1gl11, p. G 1op unm, top right, bonom. bonom ccmcr: Rohen J. Reber. co\'cr, p 2 mp, p, 5. lllu.m.11iun.-l.Ytll.a \fomc Han, p. 5 IIUCU 10p were provic!M by tl1r lllinuis Nawrnl HiitOI')' Survey. M~pr-pp. ) , ., Loren Kirkwood, lllinoi$ Natural Hinory Survey; p. 8 uric Nixon, Ui:ine Sufoni, D.E. Luman, LR. Smnh, ..u,J C.C. Coldsmith. 2003. Illinois Surfucc Topography: Champai~n. ll~ lllino~ Sca,e Geologial Survcy, llllnoh Map 11, M::lle l:500,000. Equal oppununity co parricipan: in propanl\ of rhc lllinoi$ lkp:ll'tmCt'lt of N.uunll RCSQUl'C:C3 (ll)NRJ and 1hllic fumloo hy 1he U.S. foh and WllJlifc Service anti ocher agcncecs i, uv:iilable m all 111d1viduals regardless of race:. me, n,uiom1I origin. dhahility, Jgc, rc:liginn or other non-merit factors. If ymt ~ievc: yuu h:avt hem Jlscrlmin~1eJ :ig;unst, oonmct the funding source's civil ni:his office anJ/or ,lie Eql.Ull Oppom10iiy Officer, IDNR, One NJ1ur.1l Roou~ W.t}, Springlidd, U. 62702-1271; 217/785-0067: rrY 217/782-74911 ror .LS.,ISWICC. THE l\.Ul'lOIS WlllllJE ACTION PIAN 7 Conservation Opportunity Areas are sites with special impor-tance for conserving specie.~ in greatest need of eonscrvatioo and narural communities. While not every species occurs in one of these attaS, efforts here are essential to conserving wildlife anti nacural .ireii. for furure generations to appreciate and enjoy. FORESTS 1 Wisconsin Driftless Foresl 3 Mississippi Palisades 10 Casile Rock, Lowden Miiier 18 lower LaMoine Rive< 21 Pere Marquette 23 lower Kaskaskia Boflomlands 29, 30 Shawnee Notional ~ores!, Trail of TeaTS SAVANNAS AND BARRENS 1 Wisconsin Driftlen Forest 3 Lost Mound 6 Lake-McHenry Welland Complex 8 Upper Des Plaines River 1.5 Kankdkee Sands 19 Siloam Springs 25 Hill Prairie Corridor 29, 30 Shawnee Notional Forest GRASSLANDS J Losl Mound 10 Nachusa Greisslond 11 Green River 14 Midewin, Goose Lake Prairie 17 Sand Prairie-Scrub Oak 22 Prairie Ridge 27 Pyramid WETLANDS 4 Sugar, Pecatonica Rivers S Crow's Foot Marsh 6 Lake-McHenry Wetland Complex 7 Illinois Beach 15 Momence Wetlands 16 Middle Illinois River 23 lower Kaskaskia Bottomlands 24 Middle little Wabash 29 LaRue Swamp 31 Cache River, Cypress Creek RIVERS AND STREAMS 2 Apple River 4 Sugar, Pecatonica Rivers 5 Kishwaukee River 8 Upper Des Plaines River 9 Rock River 12 Upper Mississippi River 13 lower Fox River 1 5 Kankakee River 20 Vermilion River Wdtershed 28 Wabosh River LAKES AND PONDS 6 Lake-McHenry Welland Complex 7 Illinois Beoch 12 Upper Mississippi River l 6 Middle Illinois River 26 Sink Hole Plain CAVlS 1 Wisconsin Driftless Forest 26 Sink Hole Plain 29 Shawnee Notional Forest BEACHES, BLUFFS AND ROCK OUTCROPS 1 Wisconsin Driftless Forest 3 Hanover Bluff, Mississippi Polisodes 7 Illinois Beach 21 Pere Marquette 25 Hill Prairie Corridor 29, 30 Shawnee Na1ionol Foresl, Pine Hills D. ILLh"IOIS NATURAL IJJSTORY SURVEY 01'FJC£ OP CoNTINUIN(: Eouo.noN U1,1vu, ,n oi 1w~,•• 11 Uu..M-0 ,"-llr.\ni>i , 

The Illinois wildlife action plan : defining a vision for conservation success

IDEALS @ Illinois

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/bitstream/2142/91032/2/00000724.pdf

The Illinois wildlife action plan : defining a vision for conservation success

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Illinois Digital Environment for Access to Learning and Scholarship Repository

IDEALS @ Illinois