Chapter 1 Executive Summary Chicago Wilderness and Its Biodiversity Recovery Plan Many of the surviving natural communities of the 1. 1 Chicago region are of national and global significance In t r o d u c t i o n for conservation. The region is blessed with both richness and opportunity for its conservation. Yet res e a r ch indi- cates that we are experiencing a steady decline in both 1.1.1 Chicago Wilderness: who we are, native species and communities. For example: what we are accomplishing. • In a review for this plan, the Chicago Wi l d e r n e s s “Chicago Wilderness” refers to nature and to the people Science and Land Management Teams found that and institutions that protect it. Chicago Wilderness is m o re than half of the major community types of the 200,000 acres of protected conservation land—some of region were at the highest level of conservation con- the largest and best surviving woodlands, wetlands, and cern due either to the small amount remaining or to prairies in the Midwest. It is also the much larger matrix the poor ecological health of the remaining examples. of public and private lands of many kinds that support • A 1995 survey of DuPage County forest pre s e r v e s na t ur e in the region along with the people who prot e c t revealed that 80% of its natural areas had declined to and live compatibly with it. poor health (Applied Ecological Services 1995). Native Americans were part of the natural ecosystem • A region-wide 1998 study by the Morton Ar b o re t u m he r e for thousands of years. Tod a y , thousands of volun- (Bowles et al. 1998b) documented a significant change teers and hundreds of scientists, land managers, educ- over the past 20 years in forest struc t u r e, including a ators, and others are crucial to the survival of our natural decline in density and richness of shrub species, a loss ecosystems, as is the “Chicago Wilderness” work of the of mid-size oaks, and an increase in smaller-size sugar 88 member organizations. The geographic area covered maples. The study attributed these changes to increa s - by the Chicago Wilderness region includes northeastern ed shade owing to greater oak and maple canopy Illinois, northwestern Indiana, and southeastern Wis c o n - cover and, in some cases, to deer brow s i n g . sin. The coalition’s membership includes local govern- While the community types in the region have in some ments, state and federal agencies, centers for re s e a rc h cases almost vanished from the earth, this challenge is far and education, and conservation orga n i z a t i o n s . di ff e r ent from other societal challenges we face in that we know what needs to be done to address it. The Chicago The boundaries of the Chicago Wilderness region capture region’s farsighted leaders set up preserve systems that a spectacular concentration of rare ecosystem types. today support almost all of the species ever known to These ecosystems harbor a high diversity of species, have occurred in the region’s vast prairies, savannas, including a large number of those listed as threatened or woodlands, dunes, marshes, fens, and sedge meadows. e n d a n g e red in the states of Illinois, Indiana, and Restoration ecology, a growing field for applied res e a rc h , Wisconsin. Indeed, outside of the Chicago Wi l d e r n e s s has provided proven techniques and tools to manage region, levels of diversity drop off sharply. Boundaries these fragmented natural areas. The Chicago region is a of the watersheds containing the natural communities center of expertise and citizen involvement in the res t o r a - helped to define the region, as did the large concentration tion and management of these rare natural communities. of natural preserves in the metropolitan area . 5 Biodiversity Recovery Plan The purpose of the Chicago Wilderness collaboration is ment, and they also embody our feelings of shared cul- to sustain, res t o r e, and expand our remnant natural com- t u re, history, and community. The nations of the world munities. Thanks to a great concentration of prof e s s i o n a l have signed a treaty calling biodiversity the common expertise and the contributions of thousands of volun- heritage of humankind and calling on all people to be teers, we have the ability to achieve this purpose, and in custodians of the biodiversity found in their countries a cost-effective manner. In doing this, we are also enrich- and reg i o n s . ing the quality of life for ourselves and our children. Now in its third year, our collaborative effort is starting to take In Chicago Wilderness, the value of biodiversity is not l a rger strides to build something big, something that just at the global level, but most importantly for our own could some day transform this region into the world’s citizens. Natural communities and species are the basis of first urban bioreserve, a metropolitan area where people the region’s environmental health. They provide ecologi- live in harmony with rare and valuable nature. cal services in maintaining water quality, abating the impact of floods, supporting pollination of crops, and co n t ro l ling outbreaks of pests. Equally important, biodi- 1.1.2 What is meant by biodiversity versity contributes immeasurably to the quality of life for and why is it important? the citizens of the region and to the region’s long-term economic vitality. Recent polls and election results show The terms ecosystems, natural communities, biodiversity, an d that residents of the region strongly support prot e c t i o n su s t a i n a b i li ty a re used throughout this plan. An ecosys- of natural areas for the future. Only if we continue and tem is the combination of living things and the physical expand upon the far-sighted conservation work of those systems (geology, topography, moisture, climate, etc.) who built the Chicago region, will we be able to pass these within which they must live. A natural community is the pr ecious biodiversity values on to future generations. mix of plants and animals found living together in a healthy ecosystem. S u s t a i n a b i l it y refers to our ability to Yet, there is overwhelming evidence that our pro j e c t e d enjoy and make use of natural communities in a manner development patterns and their unanticipated re s u l t s that does not compromise future generations’ ability to will lead to diminishing economic benefits and degrada- do the same. tion of the other services that we derive from our living res o u r ces. A further discussion of the benefits of pres e r v - B i o d i v e r s i t y is the totality of genes, species, and ecosys- ing biodiversity and the implications of future growth in tems in a region. For example, a healthy prairie commu- the region are contained later in the Recovery Plan. nity would normally include dozens of plant species as well as habitat for various species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, mites, fungi, and bacteria. 1.1.3 What is the recovery plan? Within a region the size of the Chicago area, biodiversity can also be measured by the number and variety of nat- The Biodiversity Recovery Plan is both a plan and a ural communities that exist side by side in a given area , pr ocess guided by its many sponsors. It is intended as a such as oak savannas, meadows, and wetlands. A h i g h living document, not a fixed roadmap, that will continue de g r ee of biodiversity is normally an indication of a heal- to evolve as new ideas and information arise. For that th y , sustainable natural community, ecosystem, or reg i o n . reason, it is a snapshot in time, presenting our best eval- uation of the current situation and how we can addres s This plan identifies 49 diffe r ent natural community types issues and capitalize on opportunities. The success of the in the region. Of these, 25 are at least rare or uncommon plan depends on the responses of those who read it and at the global level, and as many as 23 are globally imper- incorporate its findings and suggestions into their own iled. A p p roximately 1,500 native plant species occur in work. Likewise, its future usefulness depends on sugges- the region, making the Chicago metropolitan area one of tions for improvement and new priorities from its rea d e r s . the more botanically rich areas, natural or otherwise, in the United States. This plan also finds that many of the The plan is intended to complement the many other region’s animals, including grassland birds, woodland planning efforts that are guiding the region toward a bi r ds, savanna reptiles and amphibians, marsh re p t i l es better and more productive future. Foremost among and amphibians, prairie insects, and savanna and wood- these are the plans of the three regional planning com- land insects, are globally important for conservation. missions; the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission (NIPC), the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Ar ound the world, people depend on biodiversity for the Commission (SEWRPC), and the Northwestern Indiana very sustenance of life.