Illinois Nature Preserves Commission

Illinois Nature Preserve sign at Nachusa Grasslands

The Illinois Nature Preserves Commission (INPC) is a state organization, established by the Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act, to identify, protect, steward, and defend high quality natural areas in the state of Illinois.[1][2] Its mission is:[1]

to assist private and public landowners in protecting high quality natural areas and habitats of endangered and threatened species; in perpetuity, through voluntary dedication or registration of such lands into the Illinois Nature Preserves System. The Commission promotes the preservation of these significant lands and provides leadership in their stewardship, management and protection.

Eligible land, public or private, may be permanently dedicated as an Illinois Nature Preserve—the strongest level of protection—or it may be registered (permanently or temporarily) as an Illinois Land and Water Reserve or a Natural Heritage Landmark.[3][4]

The INPC comprises a volunteer board of commissioners that works with staff, landowners, and other stakeholders.[5] Funding for INPC staff comes from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Natural Areas Acquisition Fund.[5] In 2022, Todd Strole was hired as the Executive Director of INPC.[6] Prior to IDNR hiring Strole, the position of Director had been vacant for seven years.[7]

In 2020, a nonprofit organization, Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves, was created to support INPC and habitat conservation within nature preserves.[8][9]

References

  1. ^ a b "Illinois Nature Preserves Commission". Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  2. ^ "(525 ILCS 30/) Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act". www.ilga.gov. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Protection". Illinois Nature Preserves Commission. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  4. ^ "(525 ILCS 31/) Illinois Natural Areas Stewardship Act". www.ilga.gov. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  5. ^ a b "2015-2020 Strategic Plan With Implementation Objectives: Public Review Draft dated August 11, 2015" (PDF). Illinois Nature Preserves Commission. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  6. ^ "Illinois Nature Preserves Commission Minutes of the 240th Virtual Meeting" (PDF). Illinois Department of Natural Resources. January 25, 2022. pp. 2–3. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  7. ^ CST Editorial Board (16 July 2019). "Editorial: Illinois needs to do more to protect its natural wonders". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  8. ^ "Our History". Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves. 2021-09-01. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  9. ^ "New Group Sends Out Friend Request for Illinois' Underappreciated Nature Preserves". WTTW News. Retrieved 2023-07-18.