Chicago Wilderness Alliance

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Chicago Wilderness Alliance
Founded1996
TypeNon-governmental organization
Focusconservation, environmental education, sustainability
Location
Area served
Chicagoland
Websitewww.chicagowilderness.org

Chicago Wilderness Alliance is a regional

ecosystems in the Chicago area as well as motivating people to become more aware and involved in the preservation of these lands and waters. Chicago Wilderness had continued to blossom through the funding and donations of many sources including private contributions, the member organizations, and state and federal grants.[2]

History

In the 1970s the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory selected the best quality surviving

land mass it once covered.[3] Due to this dramatic decrease of naturally occurring ecosystems, the Chicago Region Biodiversity Council, or Chicago Wilderness, was formed in 1996. This collection of 34 separate organizations, including state, local, and federal agencies, joined forces as they all shared a common vision consisting of the restoration and improvement of the biodiversity of the Chicago area. In 2002, Chicago Wilderness established its Corporate Council.[4] The Corporate Council, which includes 34 organizations, was created to influence a healthy relationship between people and nature and to continue to increase the biological diversity within the region.[5]
Since it was established, Chicago Wilderness has increased its member count to over 250 different public and private organizations who work together to conserve and protect these diminishing ecosystems.

On March 29, 2017, the leadership of Chicago Wilderness announced that the Chicago Wilderness Trust would be ceasing operations effective March 31. This message stated that its Chair and Vice Chair, and their alliance partner organizations, were "committed to working with the Executive Council and other alliance members to determine the best strategy for moving forward".[6] In a June 5, 2017 email from the Chair and Vice-Chair, a "Status Report" was provided about the progress of an Ad Hoc Transition Working Group transitioning the organization from a staffed one to a volunteer-driven effort.

Land Area

Chicago Wilderness stretches from southwest

springs and swamps, rivers and lakes.[5]

The Four Main Initiatives

Chicago Wilderness has four major initiatives it strives to improve through its presence: Climate Change, Green Infrastructure Vision: Bringing Nature to People, Leave No Child Inside, and Restoring the Health of Local Nature.[5] Included in these core projects, the Chicago Wilderness alliance encompasses a variety of other programs to benefit the members of the community as well as the land they are preserving.

Climate Change

The

University of Illinois. The Climate Action Plan has five strategies it is currently working on: Energy efficient buildings, clean and renewable energy sources, improved transportation options, reduce waste and industrial pollution, and finally adaption. Green-covered roofs on some of Chicago's buildings are key features of projects implemented as part of their climate action plan.[8]

Green Infrastructure Vision

As according to Chicago wilderness, Green Infrastructure is defined as "the interconnected network of land and water that supports biodiversity and provides habitat for diverse communities of native flora and fauna at the regional scale." The Green Infrastructure Vision (GIV) was proposed in 2004. Its main purpose is to create a healthy region that plays a role in the quality of life of residents, to increase the economic liveliness of the region and to bring the

Northeast Illinois, Northwest Indiana, and Southwest Michigan
.

Chicago wilderness works to put the green infrastructure vision into action by focusing on four main scales: Regional, Community, Neighborhood and Site. At a regional level, CW members work with regional agencies. By looking at future plans and policies, they can focus on including conservation developmental and preservation principles that promote and sustain community health. In the community, land use ordinances and plans will be reworked to enhance people friendly design, while integrating such principles as

rainwater tanks), and natural landscaping in open spaces in the community.[10] The GIV put forward SWAT (Sustainable Watershed Action Team) as a response to Northeastern Illinois request for aid in basic infrastructure planning and sustainable developmental practices because of the wide-range developmental altercations arising. SWAT focuses at the scale of neighborhoods and communities.[11]

Leave No Child Inside

The Leave No Child Inside Initiative focuses on connecting children of all ages with the nature in their region. Projects sponsored by this initiative give children and teens the opportunities to explore nature, camping, and service learning projects.

Greater Cincinnati[13] and No Child Left Inside, Connecticut[14]
are just a few.

Restoring the Health of Local Nature

The Restoring the Health of Local Nature initiatives main purpose is to help return the environment in the Chicago region to its once healthy condition. The Chicago Wilderness has implemented projects that allow people to enjoy clean air, water and help restore and preserve their environment.[15] As part of this initiation, Chicago wilderness takes part in an annual service day called National Public Lands Day, in which volunteers work together to restore natural regions for future generations. Chicago Wilderness sponsors 15 different sites where volunteers can help on this day.[16]

Accomplishments

Since 1996, Chicago Wilderness has undertaken more than 500 environmental projects in the Chicago region. The foundation has received over 38 grants totaling over $15 million to support conservation projects.

Urban Forestry Task Force was created to stress the importance of the woodland biodiversity conservation in a metropolitan and suburban environment. Chicago Wilderness has been honored by The Institute for Conservation Leadership for the preservation of nature that is "creative, visionary and highly effective".[20] In 2000, Chicago Wilderness and the United States Environmental Protection Agency developed The Conservation and Native Landscaping Awards to recognize the use of native plants in landscaping. They continue to recognize the hard work of corporations, parks and municipalities.[21]

References

  1. ^ a b "Chicago Wilderness." Chicago Zoological Society. N.p., 2012. Web. 21 Jan. 2012. <http://www.czs.org/czs/Conservation-Leadership/Regional-Programs/Chicago-Wilderness> Archived January 10, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ^ "Chicago Wilderness." Defenders of Wildlife. Ed. Cindy Hoffman. N.p., 2012. Web. 22 Jan. 2012. <"Chicago Wilderness - Defenders of Wildlife". Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2012-01-25.>
  3. ^ Packard, Stephen. "Chicago Wilderness." Encyclopedia of Chicago. Ed. Janice L. Reiff, Ann D. Keating, and James R. Grossman. Chicago Historical Society, 2005. Web. 21 Jan. 2012. <http://encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/328.html>.
  4. ^ Jerozal, Jim. "Chicago Wilderness And its Corporate Council." Illinois Sustainable Technology Center. Ed. Bob Iverson. Prairie Research Institute, 2012. Web. 22 Jan. 2012. <http://www.istc.illinois.edu/info/govs_awards_docs/2008-GP2A-Jerozal.pdf Archived 2011-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ a b c Chicago Wilderness. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 2011. Web. 21 Jan. 2012.<http://www.chicagowilderness.org>.
  6. ^ Game, Catherine (29 March 2017). "Chicago Wilderness Transition". Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  7. ^ April, Kelly. "Conservationists around Great Lakes Plan for Climate Change - Chicago Tribune." Featured Articles From The Chicago Tribune. 28 Aug. 2011. Web. 10 Feb. 2012. <http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-08-28/news/ct-met-climate-change-conservation-20110828_1_climate-change-warmer-winters-great-lakes>.
  8. ^ "Cities and Climate Change: Greening the Concrete Jungle | The Economist." The Economist - World News, Politics, Economics, Business & Finance. Web. 10 Feb. 2012. <http://www.economist.com/node/21528272>
  9. ^ "Chicago Wilderness Green Infrastructure Vision." Chicago Wilderness. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Ser., Mar. 2004. Web. 12 Feb. 2012. <http://www.chicagowilderness.org/pdf/Green_Infrastructure_Vision_Final_Report.pdf> Archived March 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  10. ^ "Green Infrastructure Vision: Bringing Nature to People." Chicago Wilderness. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Ser, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2012. <http://www.chicagowilderness.org/GIV.php> Archived January 3, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  11. ^ "SUSTAINABLE WATERSHED ACTION TEAM ARCHIVE." Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Publications. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2012. <http://www.cmap.illinois.gov/sustainable-watershed-action-team> Archived July 12, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  12. ^ Leave No Child Inside, Chicago Wilderness Initiative. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Ser, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2012. <http://www.kidsoutside.info/ Archived 2012-01-22 at the Wayback Machine>.
  13. ^ Leave No Child Inside, Greater Cincinnati. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2012. <http://www.lncigc.org/>.
  14. ^ State Of Connecticut: No Child Left Inside. State of Connecticut, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2012. <http://www.ct.gov/ncli/site/default.asp>.
  15. ^ "Restoring the Health of Local Nature." Chicago Wilderness. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Ser, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2012. <http://www.chicagowilderness.org/restoring.php> Archived December 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  16. ^ "NPLD in Your Town: Chicago." National Public Lands Day. National Environmental Education Foundation, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2012. <http://www.publiclandsday.org/highlights/npld-your-town-chicago> Archived October 12, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  17. ^ "Recent Accomplishments — Chicago Wilderness." Chicago Wilderness. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service, 2011. Web. 21 Jan. 2012. <http://www.chicagowilderness.org/accomplishments.php> Archived November 30, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  18. ^ April, Kelly. "Conservationists around Great Lakes Plan for Climate Change - Chicago Tribune." Featured Articles From The Chicago Tribune. 28 Aug. 2011. Web. 10 Feb. 2012. <http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-08-28/news/ct-met-climate-change-conservation-20110828_1_climate-change-warmer-winters-great-lakes>.
  19. ^ Doyle, Kellie. "Science Teacher Teams with Wilderness Organization to Design Lessons — Lindenhurst & Lake Villa News, Photos and Events — TribLocal.com." Chicagoland News, Photos and Events — TribLocal.com. Web. 10 Feb. 2012. <http://triblocal.com/lindenhurst-lake-villa/community/stories/2011/05/science-teacher-teams-with-wilderness-organization-to-design-lessons/ Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine>.
  20. ^ Russell, Dianne. "NORTH CAROLINA AND ILLINOIS CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS HONORED FOR COLLABORATIVE WORK." Institute for Conservation Leadership. Web. Jan. 2012. <http://www.ctnc.org/site/DocServer/20111004_ICL_Press_Release_--_Fall_Fest_2011_collaborati.pdf?docID=3081>[permanent dead link].
  21. ^ "Greenacres: Landscaping with Native Plants | Great Lakes | US EPA." U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 10 Feb. 2012. <http://www.epa.gov/greenacres/awards.html>.

External links

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