Conservation Opportunity Areas
What is the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan?
The Illinois Wildlife Action Plan (IWAP) is the guiding document for management of fish and wildlife in the state. Every state has a Wildlife Action Plan accepted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and eligible for State Wildlife Grant Program funding.
How does this plan help Illinois’ fish and wildlife?
The IWAP identifies the challenges, opportunities and goals for species in greatest need of conservation (SGNC) and their habitats. The plan provides specific actions for addressing the needs of these species to ensure the natural heritage of Illinois for enjoyment by current and future generations.
What is included in the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan?
The IWAP identifies 8 main areas of action including priority habitats known as “campaigns” and high priority areas referred to as Conservation Opportunity Areas (COA’s).
What is a Conservation Opportunity Area (COA)?
A COA is described as an area with:
wildlife and habitat resources of statewide importance
partners willing to be involved
financial and human resources
an agreed-upon conservation purpose and set of objectives
An initial set of COAs were identified during development of the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, and were based upon the location of habitats and important fish & wildlife, as well as guidance from participants in workshops.
How is Illinois addressing the needs of the COA’s?
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale have teamed up to provide communication and coordination support to local partners in these COA's.
Conservation Opportunity Areas will be more successful and competitive for funding when local partners agree upon:
their top conservation priorities
local challenges and opportunities
coordinated on-the-ground activities, and
how they will measure success.
This project will:
assist, where needed, with coordination and communication,
identify a planning process to facilitate goalsetting
explore performance measures for the COA’s
develop
Project timeline: June 2008-June 2011
Assistance needed:
Information on planning in the COA’s including watershed plans, local plans.
Your name or other people you believe would be interested in planning.
Contact:
COA Project Director
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62707
The Conservation Opportunity Areas in Illinois (Project T-55) is funded through U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, State Wildlife Grants Program administered by the IDNR and with additional generous financial support from The Nature Conservancy and Southern Illinois University- Carbondale.
The Illinois Wildlife Action Plan (IWAP) is the guiding document for management of fish and wildlife in the state. Every state has a Wildlife Action Plan accepted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and eligible for State Wildlife Grant Program funding.
How does this plan help Illinois’ fish and wildlife?
The IWAP identifies the challenges, opportunities and goals for species in greatest need of conservation (SGNC) and their habitats. The plan provides specific actions for addressing the needs of these species to ensure the natural heritage of Illinois for enjoyment by current and future generations.
What is included in the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan?
The IWAP identifies 8 main areas of action including priority habitats known as “campaigns” and high priority areas referred to as Conservation Opportunity Areas (COA’s).
What is a Conservation Opportunity Area (COA)?
A COA is described as an area with:
wildlife and habitat resources of statewide importance
partners willing to be involved
financial and human resources
an agreed-upon conservation purpose and set of objectives
An initial set of COAs were identified during development of the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, and were based upon the location of habitats and important fish & wildlife, as well as guidance from participants in workshops.
How is Illinois addressing the needs of the COA’s?
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale have teamed up to provide communication and coordination support to local partners in these COA's.
Conservation Opportunity Areas will be more successful and competitive for funding when local partners agree upon:
their top conservation priorities
local challenges and opportunities
coordinated on-the-ground activities, and
how they will measure success.
This project will:
assist, where needed, with coordination and communication,
identify a planning process to facilitate goalsetting
explore performance measures for the COA’s
develop
Project timeline: June 2008-June 2011
Assistance needed:
Information on planning in the COA’s including watershed plans, local plans.
Your name or other people you believe would be interested in planning.
Contact:
COA Project Director
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62707
The Conservation Opportunity Areas in Illinois (Project T-55) is funded through U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, State Wildlife Grants Program administered by the IDNR and with additional generous financial support from The Nature Conservancy and Southern Illinois University- Carbondale.
