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Illinois
  New Challenges    
 
Introduction
Present Day Forests
Recent Forests
Ancient Forests
Conservation
Early Efforts
New Challenges
Fragmentation
Exotic Species
Fire Suppression
Biological Diversity
Economic Importance
How Do We Know?
Human Inspiration
Tree Guide
Glossary
Resources
Credits
Teacher Orientation
      Challenges remaining
The restoration, management, and conservation of the remaining native forests of Illinois present a challenging but important task. Among the issues facing Illinois forests at present are:
  • fragmentation
  • maintenance of biological diversity
  • invasion by non-native species 
  • erosion
These topics are explained on the following pages.

Remaining old growth forests
Typically, lands unsuitable for cultivation escaped clearing, and most of these occurred near streams. Streams also served as firebreaks, and were therefore typically forested prior to European settlement. Today, most of the forests in the south-central portion of the state are associated with streams.

Secondary growth forest
Much of the increase in forest over the past 25 years came in the form of secondary growth forest. Second growth forests are quite different from native forests. Typically they occur in small, widely spaced plots of land and unless they are managed, are likely to be degraded. 

 

   
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