Illinois Forest Action Plan
A statewide forest resource assessment and strategy for 2020 - 2030
State of Illinois Forests
Illinois forests have changed significantly over the past 200 years. Once a state with 40% forest cover in the early 1800s, Illinois now consists of about 14% forest cover.
In the figure to the right, we can see a direct comparsion of historic and current forest cover. On the right of the image, historic forest cover shows large, contiguous swaths across much of the state and along nearly all waterays. Present-day forest cover is on the left. Although some areas have a resemblance to their past, other areas have experienced significant loses of forest cover. Use the slider to explore how areas have changed over time.
As the 5th most populous state and with significant projected population growth, Illinois' forests will continue to face demands for resources and recreation.
Illinois forests need a strategy to combat the anticipated challenges in the coming years. With the significant demands and challenges ahead for Illinois forests, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Illinois Forestry Development Council developed a statewide forest resource assessment and strategy for 2020 - 2030.
The Illinois Forest Action Plan is a 10-year strategy to continue to combat forest loss and plan for the continued population growth across Illinois.
Within the Forest Action Plan, you'll find details of the state of Illinois forests and a path forward for dealing with 21st century challenges. Continue below to learn more about Illinois forests and the action plan developed by the IDNR.
The state was nearly half covered in forests during the 19th century, with about 14 million acres of forest. Currently, though, with just about 14%, or 4.9 million acres, of the state consisting of forest cover, Illinois faces many challenges and opportunities over the coming years.
Forests are essential for global health and are central to the global carbon cycle. Mitigating climate change and stormwater runoff are two important arguments for manging the state's forests to most effectively deal with these growing issues.
Compared to the historic forest cover and populations, Illinois now has 13 times more people per acre of forest. This is a significant increase in demand for forests!
Further, given the state's population and anticipated growth, Illinois ranks 5th in the United States for wood products needs, highlighing the tension and demands placed on Illinois' remaining forests. While the forest loss has stabilized and even shown signs of increasing cover over the past decades, the existing forest cover is essential.
83% of the remaining forests are privately owned, reminding the public of the importance of their role in forest stewardship across the state. The imbalance in publicly- and privately-owned forests makes working with state and federal agencies and other coalitions across Illinois important to keep forests as forests, expand and connect forest blocks to reduce fragmentation, and work to monitor and mitigate threats to Illinois' remaining forests.
An important action that landowners can take that will save money and promote healthy forests is enrolling your property in a forest management plan. Learn more about private land progams here .
Illinois is home to over 400 vertebrate wildlife species, with 75% of those species requiring forests for at least part of their life. Further, many Threatened and Endangered plant and animal species are found throughout Illinois' forests - keeping forests as forests is essential for people and wildlife.
Forest recreation, including hiking, hunting, wildlife viewing, and fishing, is deeply valued by Illinois' residents, and is an important contributor to the state's economy.
Forest-related industries employ 65,000 people and contribute over $4.5 billion annually to the state's economny. For example, there are over 500 christmas tree growers in Illinois that produce over 250,000 trees annually with a retail value exceeding $5 million. Additionally, there are several primary and secondary sawmills in the region, contributing to the growing needs of Illinois' residents and beyond. On top of that, urban forestry needs continue to grow and many arborists and tree technicians live and work throughout the state.
With the significant demands and challenges ahead for Illinois forests, the Illinois Forest Action Plan identified current forest resources across Illinois, trends and threats, as well as priorities, opportunities, and strategies for the future of Illinois forests.
Threats to Illinois Forests
Seven key threats to Illinois forest lands and resources are described in the Illinois Forest Action Plan and outlined below. The IDNR is focusing their attention and resources to tackle the following threats over the next decade.
1. Declining Oak-Hickory Forests
In the greater Central Hardwood Region, gradual decline of oak species in the overstory has been underway for several decades. Through changes in regional disturbance regimes, late-successional, shade-tolerant species such as American beech (Fagus grandifolia) and sugar maple (Acer saccharum) are outcompeting more desirable, shade-intolerant genera such as oak and hickory, leading to concerns regarding the future composition and structure of forests throughout the region.
Programs like Let the Sunshine In are increasing awareness of the importance of oak-dominated ecosystems and providing educational tools for learning how to maintain these essential forests
Oaks in our forests are affected by both ongoing biological processes and by human or livestock practices initiated by landowners, resource managers, and government decisions. Reductions in the frequency of beneficial disturbances, such as timber management and prescribed fire, have added to the suppression of oak seedlings and increased the frequency of nonoak seedlings and saplings.
The transition from oak-hickory forests to late-successional forest types will herald many ecological changes including, potentially, less ability of our forests to withstand drought condition and shifts in the oak-associated fauna, including a potential deline in many important game species such as white-tailed deer and eastern wild turkeys.
2. Fragmentation of Large Forest Blocks
"Some of the harmful consequences of fragmentation are a loss of biodiversity, increased populations of invasive and nonnative species, and changes in biotic and abiotic conditions" (Hayes 2003)
Fragmentation is the breaking up of large habitat or forest cover areas into smaller parcels.
Like many areas, Illinois forests are increasing fragmented. This is primarily due to parcelization, where the number of nonindustrial private forest landowners in the United States has been increasing while the average size of parcels has been decreasing. In Illinois, the median privately owned forest patch is 25 acres and 33% own between 10 - 19 acres.
Concerning for many wildlife species and overall forest health, fewer than 50 blocks over 500 acres exist across Illinois. Below is a map of contiguous forest blocks at least 500 acres. You will see that the majority of these blocks exist in the southern part of the state with very few remnant, large blocks exist. Please take a minute to zoom in and pan around Ilinois - how many blocks exist in your county?
The remaining forest blocks at least 500 acres in size.
3. Forest Health Threats are Increasing
Multiple insect pests, disease, invasive plant species, and abiotic issues are affecting Illinois forest health. Additionally, biotic and abiotic factors may interact to negatively impact forests in ways that are difficult to predict; and these effects can be relative to landscape-level conditions and use patterns.
Invasive Plants
Invasive plant species are a widespread concern because their presence can alter natural plant communities and processes, threaten biodiversity, and contribute to decreases in sustainability, productivity, and wildlife habitat. Below are the primary, aggressive invasive species across much of Illinois - learn more about the invasive species threats to our state by visiting the IDNR - Illinois Invasive Species Council website.
Agressive invasive species found in Illinois. Left to right: autumn olive, black locust, bush honeysuckle, common buckthorn, garlic mustard, Japanese honeysuckle, multiflora rose, and reed canarygrass.
4. Forestry Professionals are Too Few
Trained forestry professionals and technical staff of the IDNR Division of Forest Resources are responsible for the bulk of the state’s forestry expertise and outreach to landowners, tree nursery operations, communities managing urban forests, and others needing technical and practical advice.
The critical issue at hand is that the State of Illinois lacks a sufficient number of qualified experienced professional staff within the IDNR to meet the forest management needs of it citizens and of the state.
In fiscal year 2006, the Illinois state appropriation to the IDNR represented a 22% reduction from FY 2004 and a 28% reduction from FY 2002. Staff reductions have been exacerbated by retirements.
Early retirements in 2002 and subsequent budget cuts to IDNR over the past several years have reduced the Forestry Division’s professional, technical, and clerical staff by 39%, 67%, and 86%, respectively.
For example, In the early 2000s, five regional forester positions had foresters staffed and now, only one regional forester exists.
Illinois ranks fifth in the nation in terms of population, ranks number one in the nation for local units of government, and is one of the top states for number of municipalities.
Yet the Illinois Urban and Community Forestry Program has only one dedicated full time equivalent administrative position. Surrounding states with fewer local units of government, municipalities, and citizens have had 5 - 10 dedicated urban and community forestry staff. In the central United States, the state average is four dedicated State Urban and Community Forestry foresters.
Illinois’ Division of Forest Resources foresters are required to support consultants in approving management plans, management practices, and other critical habitat in addition to mandated environmental projects.
Consultants for prescribed burning, timber stand improvement (TSI), and management plans are at times not available or not interested due to low rates, or inconsistent monetary incentives of the IDNR Forestry Division. It is essential that state IDNR foresters are in place to support the activity of consultants and to help consultants serve the forests in the best interests of the resources and those landowners who control 83% of the resource.
5. Forest Industries and Mills are Shrinking
Forest product producers and manufacturing firms comprise a small but important part of Illinois' economy, espeically in rural areas of the state. A 2012 economic impact study showed forestry and forest products in Illinois represent a $23 billion dollar annual market.
Unforunately, the number of production sawmills in Illinois has decreased by 72% since 1961. For example, as of 2005 there are 150 working sawmills, but just 75 active mills in 2013 - a 50% decrease!
Map of Illinois Sawmills
Many of the sawmills in Illinois have closed, with a concentration in the south-central portion of the state. Below is a map showing the sawmills across Illinois, with colors indicating their Status (open/closed; see legend below in caption).
Illinois Sawmills as of 2016. Green indicates Open; Red is closed; Yellow is idle.
Illinois is also home to custom woodworkers with smaller mills that are inventoried differently than the production sawmills above. Below is an interactive directory of Illinois custom sawmills and workers published by the University of Illinois Extension .
Illinois Directory of Custom Sawmills and Woodworkers
A fact that exemplifies the need for more Illinois forest industries is that during the closing and idling of half of the Illinois mills in the last decade, the amount of timber harvested from Illinois forests has remained constant and at the date of this publication is increasing. Currently, almost one-third of the industrial round-wood harveste in Illinois is sent to other states for processing, providing much less benefit to the Illinois economy.
Collectively, the mills offer Illinois woodland owners an outlet to sell timber and provide jobs in some of our state’s rural areas. The demand for wood products is likely to increase, placing a greater demand on the state’s forest resource. An important consideration for the economy of Illinois is that Illinois’ primary wood-product markets, industries, and mills retain and expand their ability to process the industrial logs and round-wood harvested, leading to value-added production within this state.
6. Urban and Community Forests Face Extreme Challenges
Urban and community forests occur in nearly all communitiesthroughout the Northeast and Midwest, from the most urban to very rural.
The benefits of trees, forests, and other green infrastructure contribute to the quality of life in all Illinois communities.
The quality and quantity of Illinois urban forests is in jeopardy. Increased urbanization is out pacing reforestation efforts and most communities’ ability to manage urban forests.
There is a substantial need to further practices and policies, which can sustain and improve urban forests.
Illinois urban and surburban forests face four primary pressures and challenges over the next decade
Illinois has the most local units of government of any state in the nation and is ranked among the top states for the number of municipalities. Illinois also ranks fifth in the nation among states for state residents. However, Illinois’ current community and forestry program has only one dedicated full time equivalent administrative position.
Education of professionals and nonprofessionals needs to remain an ongoing priority to effectively and safely manage urban forests and enhance the available care for Illinois trees. Tree Care operations are among the most hazardous in the U.S. workforce. Standardized safety training for tree industry professionals, certified arborists, foresters and loggers, is available and should be supported throughout the state.
There currently is not a detailed statewide urban forestry inventory and assessment of the tree canopy and tree resources within the municipal forests of Illinois.
It is essential to establish this baseline data in order to create urban and community forest goals and management strategies for those cities, towns, and villages.
One of the most cost effective means to a sustainable healthy urban forest, especially through times of climate change, is to ensure diversity of species and age. Unfortunately, when urban forestry funding is focused on crisis management, often there is a reduction in funding for tree replacement.
Our urban forests are being exposed to new insect, pathogens, and plant species. These pests can have a significant impact on the urban forest in a number of ways, including impacting tree health, crowding out preferred species in natural areas, or redirecting limited resources to control measures. Forest diversity, in age and species composition, can help combat the effects of invasives.
7. Forestry Funding is Declining
The lack of permanent forestry funding remains one of the most significant threat to Illinois forests
Forests are critical to the environment, quality of life, and the state and national economy.
Illinois has failed to generate or legislate permanent funding for forest and natural resources conservation and remains in great need of doing so. Forests are critical to the environment, quality of life, and the state and national economy. A specific legislative or voterbacked funding mechanism is needed to guarantee the critical funding required by the state forestry division within the IDNR to support the protection and sustainable management of all forests within Illinois.
Permanent funding for forestry could dramatically increase the output of rich, functioning wildlife habitat, the distribution of forest products into the economy, the preservation of clean water and soil resources, the availability of recreational opportunities, as well as all other services and benefits forestry provides to the citizens of Illinois and beyond.
Climate change as part of the forestry planning process
Global climate change and the degradation of forest health and resiliency is an important concern for Illinois. Illinois should prepare for climate change and become involved with other natural resource agencies within the region to collaborate and share in the planning and preparation for climate change impacts. A key resource for this planning is the Central Hardwoods Ecosystem Vulnerability Assessment and Synthesis report by the Central Hardwoods Climate Change Response Framework Project .
Strategies for Moving Foward
The Illinois Forest Action Plan outlines a number of strategies for moving forward over the next decade towards healthier and more resilent forests across our state. Below we describe several of the key strategies to meet the demands and challenges for Illinois forests.
The Illinois Forest Action Plan is an important document bringing much needed attention to the forests of our state. Importantly, it details the effort that IDNR has put towards maintaining and expanding forest cover across the state. To learn more, you can read the complete Illinois Forest Action Plan .
To learn more about other efforts in the state, please visit the IDNR Forestry website , the Illinois Forestry Development Council , the University of Illinois Forestry Extension , or the Illinois Forestry Association .
For more information, contact Tom Gargrave, Regional Forester for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, at tom.gargrave@illinois.gov.
