Presentation bySusan Donovan –

TNCCharles Jackson –

IEC July 23, 2009

Illinois Needs To Protect Its Land,Water And Recreational

Opportunities

•Protect critical natural areas and wildlife

•Increasing demand for recreational Open Space

•State of Conservation Funding in Illinois

•Economic Benefits to the State

Conservation And Recreation Areas Owned By

Midwestern States

Conservation And Recreation Areas Owned By

Midwestern States

Identified Open Space Needs

• Illinois State Wildlife Action Plan•One of 12 nationally recognized plans

• Illinois Natural Areas Inventory (INAI)•Comprehensive update complete soon

• Demand For Public Funding of Open Space Increasing

•Fund sweeps, staff cuts, programs diminishing

Capital Funding

• Invest In Recreational Opportunities

• Protect Wildlife And Natural Areas

• Leverage available Federal dollars

• Acquire Land While It’s Available and Before Prices Rise

Existing Revenue Needs To Be Protected and Balances

Expended(We need to revised this slide – what of

Debbie Stone’s April 09 presentation on NAAF and OSLAD should be

included?)• OSLAD

• NAAF

• Partners for Conservation Program (formerly C2000 )

Invest now to Preserve and Protect our future

Thank you to the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation for their support for this work