Illinois Administrative Code › Title 17 - CONSERVATION › Part 1523 - PARTNERS FOR CONSERVATION - ECOSYSTEMS PROGRAM › Section 1523.20 - Definitions

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 28, July 12, 2024
"Best Management Practices (BMPs)" include a broad range of
				conservation practices that individually or in combination help to reduce or
				prevent adverse impacts to the landscape or ecosystem.
"Comprehensive Environmental Review Process (CERP)" means the
				internal process used by the Department to review its actions, including
				funding of grants or projects, to insure the greatest protection of all natural
				and cultural resources to the extent possible and for compliance with Illinois
				and federal environmental statutes regarding the protection of vulnerable
				natural or cultural resources, including but not limited to, natural areas,
				wetlands, threatened and endangered species, and archeological sites.
"Conservation 2000 Administrator" means the Ecosystems Division
				Administrator charged with the responsibility for the development of policy,
				management and administration of Conservation 2000 for the Department.
"Department" means the Illinois Department of Natural
				Resources.
"Director" means Director of the Illinois Department of Natural
				Resources, or his designee.
"Ecosystem Administrator " means a regional Department staff
				person who is the primary contact to an Ecosystem Partnership.
"Ecosystem Partnership " means a coalition of individuals and
				organizations, designated by the Director, who work cooperatively to promote
				habitat preservation, restoration and enhancement of natural ecosystems within
				the context of the human environment. The term partnership does not meet the
				legal criteria of a partnership as defined in the Uniform Partnership Act [805
				ILCS 205 ].
"Ecosystem Partnership Area" means the area within the
				boundaries of a designated Ecosystem Partnership as requested by and on record
				with the Department.
"Ecosystem Partnership Support Grant" means a grant made to
				Ecosystem Partnerships to provide funding to help with expenses incurred in the
				areas of maintenance, education, communication and administration.
"Ecosystem Project Grants " means competitively funded projects
				designed to protect, enhance or restore biodiversity of ecosystems, in a manner
				that is compatible with economic development and sustainable land use practices
				within specific Ecosystem Partnership Areas within the following criteria
				:
"Habitat Grant" means a category of grant that will result in
				the installation of land and water management, creation, restoration and
				enhancement practices that promote increased biodiversity or improved
				ecological functions. These practices should follow the Program Guidance, be
				based upon habitat restoration literature or commonly used habitat restoration
				practices, have long-term ecological benefits, and be as self-sustaining as
				possible.
"Land Acquisition/Easement Grant" means a category of grant
				that will result in 30 year/perpetual easements and fee simple acquisitions
				that protect habitat and restore ecosystem functions.
"Outreach/Education Grant" means a category of grant that will
				result in projects that reach a target audience, informing them of the
				importance of or techniques used in the restoration, preservation, and/or
				management of ecosystems and biodiversity.
"Planning Grant" means a category of grant that will result in
				development of plans that integrate Ecosystem Partnership goals with Program
				Guidance principles and/or with the mission of related and relevant
				programs.
"Research Grant" means a category of grant that will result in
				investigation, data analysis, and research of ecological factors in the
				Ecosystem Partnership Area that can be used to advance Ecosystem Partnership
				goals and the Ecosystem Program's mission.
"Resource Economics Grant" means a category of grant that will
				result in unique economic development projects directly associated with human
				access or sustainable non-destructive use of an ecosystem.
"Local Partnership Council (LPC)" means the governing body of
				the Ecosystem Partnership.
"Program Guidance" means a document developed and released by
				the Department that provides periodic updates on the mission, goals,
				objectives, and direction of Conservation 2000. The document expands upon the 9
				criteria that define the role of an Ecosystem Partnership which are to:
				acquire, protect and restore natural resources of local and State significance;
				acquire, preserve, and restore habitat areas that meet minimum functional
				habitat area guidelines; develop and implement restoration/recovery of species
				"guilds" or insure diversity of habitat; create, protect, and restore adequate
				buffer to protect sensitive habitats from non-compatible land uses; connect
				habitat areas; use ecosystem-based Best Management Practices; restore and
				naturalize hydrologic functions; develop educational strategies that complement
				ecosystem protection, restoration and enhancement activities; integrate
				research and monitoring into partnership and program work; integrate the
				ecosystems program with other local, State and federal programs and
				initiatives.
"Vision Plan" means a strategic document developed by an
				Ecosystem Partnership that identifies natural resource issues and provides
				realistic ecosystem-based strategies that should be undertaken to achieve a set
				of desired goals and objectives. The Vision Plan outlines citizens', local
				governments', private organizations' and businesses' role in the stewardship of
				the Ecosystem Partnership Area's natural and cultural resources. The Vision
				Plan will follow an outline and results-based planning framework (Vision Plan
				Framework) developed by the Department's Ecosystems Division.
"Vision Plan Framework" means a guidance document developed by
				the Department's Ecosystems Division outlining a process and requirements for
				developing a Vision Plan. The Vision Plan Framework will be updated as
				necessary and provided to Ecosystem Partnerships.