Wetlands are the most underappreciated of Illinois' ecosystems.
Swamps, marshes, bogs, and other types of wetlands were long considered unattractive and a risk to human health. Many were drained to make way for farmland or urban development. The number of acres of wetlands fell from over eight million before European settlement to only 918,000 today. Of these, only 6,000 acres are of high quality and undisturbed. In recent years, however, ecologists have touted the many benefits of wetlands, and their reputation has improved greatly.