The Illinois Wildlife Action Plan:
A Local Perspective Overview
In 2005, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources completed the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan (IWAP), a comprehensive strategy designed to coordinate and focus the state’s conservation efforts over the next 10 years.
The IWAP classifies nearly 700 animals as “Species in Greatest Need of Conservation” (SGNC). Protecting these species and their habitats will be a priority for the State of Illinois over the next decade. The “State Wildlife Grants” program focuses all funding on the protection and management of SGNC. (More on this grant program below.)
UDPREP worked with the IL Natural History Survey to develop a list of the SGNC that are predicted to occur in our watershed. This list is intended to help local stakeholders identify links between their projects and the objectives of the IWAP. Establishing a connection with the IWAP may improve stakeholders' chances of getting technical assistance and funding from the state. Scroll down the page to see the local SGNC list.
A complete copy of the IWAP can be downloaded by clicking here. (Please note this is a 78 MB pdf file. Downloading it requires a fast connection and patience!) The full list of SGNC starts on page 294 (that’s the page number written on the IWAP, not the number assigned by Adobe Acrobat Reader).
State Wildlife Grants Program
Managed by IDNR, this program funds the protection and management of SGNC as identified in the IWAP. Pre-proposals are due Friday, April 11, 2008.
For guidelines and an application form visit http://dnr.state.il.us/orc/wildliferesources/theplan/swggrant/login.asp.
Questions can be directed to James Renn, IDNR, 217-785-5907, james.renn@illinois.gov
If you’re interested in applying for funding, you may wish to read the IWAP sections listed below before writing your proposal. These sections further outline priority objectives related to protecting SGNC. Please note that the page numbers refer to the numbers written on the plan itself, not the page numbers assigned by Adobe Acrobat Reader.
”Desired Conditions” page 40.
“Challenges for Illinois Wildlife” page 52.
“Priority Conservation Actions” page 59.
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