Illinois’ natural wonders are well worth preserving

Thank you for your excellent editorial describing the work of the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission. Many people in Illinois fail to recognize how ecologically diverse this state is.

According to one estimate, the only state with more diversity is California, which is almost three times larger. Many of the natural areas of Illinois have disappeared under the plow or under asphalt.

But not all.

Scattered throughout the state are sites containing the diverse species that made early settlers consider Illinois a paradise. It is the mission of the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission to try to protect as many of these sites as possible.

The Commission currently protects over 100,000 acres of land as dedicated nature preserves or land and water reserves. Some of these sites are owned by government agencies with fine records of preserving land. These include the Cook County Forest Preserve District and the other forest preserve or conservation districts in the collar counties.

However, many others are small private or government-owned sites without the funding or expertise to manage them properly. The commission’s staff attempts to fill this need, but that staff, dedicated as it is, has been starved of support for a number of years.

Unfortunately, several previous administrations seemed to consider the Commission and the Department of Natural Resources as piggy banks to fund other state programs.

Money, such as a small portion of the state real estate transfer tax that was dedicated to natural area preservation, was “swept” from the commission and the DNR and spent on matters unrelated to conservation.

However, there are hopeful signs on the horizon. We are optimistic that under the new administration, preserving Illinois’ natural heritage will once again receive the attention it so richly deserves.

George M. Covington, Chair, Illinois Nature Preserves Commission

Send letters to letters@suntimes.com.