It also aids site and species protection through the review of publicly regulated projects and helps determine the status of potential endangered species. The Division identifies lands for protection with funds the Department receives from the Illinois Real Estate Transfer tax, a tax on land transfers that often result in development and habitat loss. The Illinois Nature Preserves System is another important protection tool. The System is established and overseen by the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission and is open to both public and private lands. Preserves are dedicated in perpetuity and receive special legal protection.
Private dedications result in a reduction of property taxes.
Less stringent protection and preservation options are Natural Heritage Landmarks which are available to cooperating private landowners, a Registry of Land and Water Reserves that is open to both public and private landowners, and conservation easements. Privately owned areas that are Registered or that are encumbered by a conservation easement may also be eligible for a reduction in property taxes. A newly emerging emphasis on protection of large landscape scale tracts and linear stream corridors depends on voluntary cooperation of many private landowners to augment key public lands. The motivation for such cooperation rests in the benefit to all from the enhancement of a large common resource that touches every participant but is controlled by no one individual. Much protection and preservation negotiation is accomplished by the Nature Preserves Commission staff while database maintenance and land acquisition are functions of the Natural Heritage Division.