The Chicago region is a surprise to many people. These rare species rely on native ecosystems of oak woodlands and prairies. The systems have become overrun with non-native plants due in part to public efforts to stop fires, which provide the forest's natural protection and fertilizer. The fires clear away leaf litter and weeds that block the sun and keep grasses and other plants from growing. The areas are cleared of shrubs and weeds and a year or two later undergo controlled burning.
Restoration is a process of evolution.
Following more than 10 years of restoration efforts at Waterfall Glen, about 50 kinds of native plants bloom there in the summer and 20 different species of birds have moved into the area, said Wayne Lampa of the DuPage County Forest Preserve District. Sometimes, part of the problem is simply identifying and mapping areas in need of preservation and restoration. An important ongoing project that addresses this issue is called the Greenways Plan which was co-authored by Openlands Project and the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission. Greenways are corridors of open land that follow the course of rivers, railroads, utility lines or other natural or human pathways. Examples include bike trails, streams flanked by forest preserves, and the parks stretched along Chicago's lakefront.