A new report ranks Illinois in the bottom third of states on spending for open space. According to the Illinois State Land Conservation Funding report released in March, Illinois has gone from spending an average of 50 million a year in land acquisition to less than 10 million annually over the last few years.
Illinois ranks last by a large margin among Midwestern states in acres protected per capita, with only 1 percent of its land owned by the state. Illinois spent $2.67 per resident on open space annually during its peak years of investment, while Minnesota spent $5.76 and Wisconsin spent $9.80. Funding in Illinois has dropped by 80% since the early 2000s. Illinois’ drop in funding is the result of the end of a four-year program to protect open space and diversions from funds from two long-term programs, the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) and the Natural Areas Acquisition Fund (NAAF). Both OSLAD and NAFF are supported by real estate transfer taxes. While that revenue increased with the real estate boom earlier this decade the state has taken away millions of dollars slated for natural areas for budgetary reasons. In fiscal year 2006, more than $35 million was diverted.
Illinios is considered to be one of the most ecologically diverse states in the country, containing hundreds of different ecosystems. The state has already lost mroe than 99.9% of its original prairies and 90% of its original wetlands. A coalition has been formed to fight this financial deficit. Visit it here: http://www.partnersforparksandwildlife.org/
The National Audubon Society released a survey in June that our country’s most common bird species are declining at an alarming rate. The data compiled is based on the famous Christmas Bird Count which has taken place every winter for 107 years by us, the citizens. Twenty of our most common birds have declined on an average of 68% - some as high as 80% - since 1967.
Of the twenty common species the Northern Bobwhite has seen the greatest decline at 82% and finishing at number 20 is the Ruffed Grouse at a 54% decline. In between, beloved birds in decline include: Evening Grosbeak, Boreal Chickadee, Meadowlark, Field Sparrow, Grackle, Whip-poor-will, and the Northern Pintail duck.
Why is this happening? Audubon points towards urban sprawl, an increase of invasive species, intensive agriculture practices and habitat fragmentation. Veryln Klinkenborg of the New York Times wrote a great article on the matter a few weeks ago. She wrote, “The Audubon Society portrait of common bird species in decline is really a report on who humans are. Let me offer a proposition about Homo sapiens. We are the only species on earth capable of an ethical awareness of other species and, thus, the only species capable of happily ignoring that awareness. I don’t suppose that most Americans would actively kill a whippoorwill if they had the chance. Yet in the past 40 years its number has dropped by 1.6 million. We look around us, expecting the rest of the world’s occupants to adapt to the changes that we have caused, when, in fact, we have the right to expect adaptation only from ourselves.”
The report certainly has offered a lot for analysis and maybe not just about birds. Read the full report here: http://www.audubon.org/
In a world where endangered plants are becoming extinct and rare plants are becoming threatened, refreshing news was announced that a new species of orchid was discovered in the United States at Yosemite National Park. The plant will be called Yosemite Bog Orchid (Platanthera yosemitensis) and appears to only exist within the California National Park. The plant can be confirmed by its tiny yellow flowers and distinct odor which resembles stinky feet or strong cheese.
The plant was first collected in 1923 and was thought to be another species, a southern Rockies Bog Orchid. Its location was discovered again in Yosemite in 1993 at which time botanists had a gut feeling that this was a distinct species. Taxonomists soon began searching for and mapping other locations where this orchid was encountered in Yosemite. The case was then re-opened, as if it were a crime mystery, in 2003. The country’s leading botanists confirmed it after much examination. “What a delight to find that, in the 21st century, such gems await disovery, or, in this case, re-discovery.”said Alison Colwell, a USGS botanist. “Doubtless more such finds await us.”
Well said, Alison. Lets hope the Midwest can get its own gem of discovery someday.
Read the USGS press release here http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=1706
A great segment on invasive species appeared on the CNN News website on June 29. This followed up a news story that came up in March on The Nature Conservancy’s website and magazine. It discussed how nurseries are agreeing with The Nature Conservancy to not sell invasive species, sometimes some of their biggest sellers. Starting with the big box retailers Meijer and Lowes, they have agreed to pull Lombardy Poplar (Populus nigra italica) and Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) from their shelves in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois. Although many states, including Wisconsin, have their own laws concerning the sale of invasive plants this is the first full fledged effort by an environmental group to work with retailers. In general, there are about 20 plants that remain on the list that they eventually want garden centers to stop selling.
Last year the federal government spent 631 million dollars on invasive species removal. This does not count what state, county and local agencies are doing. Estimated numbers have reached the 5 billion mark when they look at its widespread effect. Illinoisians may be aware that Honeysuckle and Buckthorn were brought in by Chicago developers in the 1950s as an ‘economical hedgerow’ between houses during the baby boom. Now, an entire industry has been created in Chicagoland and beyond to control them.
This is a big step in the right direction. Lets hope that the nursery trade will continue to cooperate in the years to come so we can create regional landscapes rather than those which are boiler plate and instantly gratifying. Read the CNN article here: http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/06/29/plant.invaders.ap/index.html#cnnSTCText
We recently lost a great voice for and pioneer of native plant advocacy. The environmental First Lady was instrumental in putting native plants to use for reasons other than ecological restoration. The Beautification Act of 1965 was residue from her efforts to use plants on a large scale to fight pollution, renew urban areas, increase mental health and create a healthier highway infrastructure. Because of this bill, we now use 0.25 - 1 percent of funds allocated for highway landscaping for native trees, shrubs and plants of local orgin. After her white house years she moved her efforts to Texas where they set the benchmark for the use of native plants in a highway system. Lady Bird always spoke of the ecological and engineering purposes as benefits of native plants and their great beauty as a bonus. Texas is now known far and wide for the stunning color in its highway system when plants, such as Blue Bonnets, are in bloom. She eventually founded the National Wildflower Research Center in Austin in 1982. Lady Bird’s passion and ability to obtain results is respected by all conservationists today; she will be missed. Visit her research center here: http://www.wildflower.org/
Cory Ritterbusch will be speaking at the Prairie Restoration Workshop on July 30 in Elizabeth, IL. The workshop is scheduled between 9-3 at the Elizabeth community building on route 20. Participants can view two local prairie restorations during the afternoon sessions. Advance registration is $25.00 and $35.00 after July 19. To learn more contact Mark Maidak at 815.858.2273. The workshop is co-sponsored by the Northwestern Illinois Land and Farm Preservation Coalition, The Prairie Enthusiasts and the University of Illinois Extension.
There have been two articles on landscaping with native plants recently in the Chicago Tribune. Both have highlighted their many benefits and advantages. It appears that more and more towns are changing their weed ordinances to adjust to the popularity. I hope the Galena Territory, Apple Canyon Lake and the city of Galena can take notice.
