Project T-115-R1

Project Title: Effectiveness of Illinois' Protected Lands Network at Supporting SGCN and Their Habitats

Community and/or Species Focus: Various SGCN

Goals/Objectives:

1. Conduct conservation status reviews for Natural Community Types
2. Evaluate inclusiveness and gaps for Natural Community Types within Illinois' Protected Lands Network
3. Develop and conduct a threats assessment for Protected Lands in Illinois
4. Conduct conservation status reviews for SGCN
5. Identify protected habitats for SGCN and gaps in protection
6. Identify key locations for biodiversity protection and stewardship

Achievements:

1. ​Updated State Conservation Status Ranks (S Ranks) for Illinois' Natural Community Types and SGCN that provide a common assessment standard for prioritization of conservation actions
2. Threats assessment that identifies principle threats for protected lands that will assist with identification and prioritization of stewardship needs
3. Identification of Natural Community Types and threatened and endangered (T&E) species that occur primarily outside of protected lands as gaps in the system of protected lands in Illinois
4. Map of key locations for protection of high quality Natural Community Types that will assist with prioritization of stewardship needs
5. Map of key locations for biodiversity protection based on non-plant T&E locations that assists with prioritization of stewardship needs

Post-Project Survey (if applicable): n/a

Project Period: 11/1/16 - 8/31/19

Principle Investigator(s): Leon Hinz, Yong Cao, and Bridget Henning (INHS)

Final Report: T-115-R1