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"‘Creating Habitats and Homes
for Illinois Wildlife’ will inspire, instruct and encourage people
to enjoy and conserve the rich wildlife legacy of Illinois," said
IDNR Director Joel Brunsvold. "This guidebook details in plain
language and photos management opportunities and practices that
landowners can adopt for key habitats on their own land."
With more than 200 color
photographs, the book is worth having for the exquisite depiction of
Illinois wildlife, but the book is also chock full of accessible
scientific information about the status of wildlife habitat in
Illinois.
"The key to making successful
wildlife management decisions is to use the best scientific
information available. This book compiles, in a user-friendly way,
what is known about major habitat issues in our state today," said
primary author of the book Debbie Scott Newman, preservation
specialist for the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission.
There are many reasons why
Illinois citizens are keen to protect wildlife habitat.
"We cannot overestimate the
importance of natural areas and wildlife on the quality of life,"
said co-author Richard Warner, U of I professor of wildlife ecology.
"But the Illinois economy realizes more than $1 billion every year
from expenditures related to watching wildlife. Nearly $600 million
is spent each year on recreational fishing. And hunters spend nearly
$450 million a year pursuing game."
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Since most land in Illinois is
held by private citizens, it's imperative that individual landowners
are knowledgeable about wildlife habitat.
"This book goes farther than
any other book available in describing what individual people can do
on their own property to create wildlife habitat," said U of I
wildlife ecologist Phil Mankin, another co-author. "There are
chapters on grassland, woodland, aquatic and wetland habitats but
also a chapter focusing on specific things people can do in their
own back yards or small tracts of land."
Funding for the project comes
from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Illinois
Conservation Foundation, the Habitat Stamp and Pheasant Stamp funds,
the University of Illinois, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s
Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program. The money raised
through book sales will go toward printing additional copies of the
book and other related educational materials.
The
cost for an individual copy of "Creating Habitats and Homes for
Illinois Wildlife" is $25, plus a shipping and handling fee. You can
purchase the book by contacting Illinois Department of Natural
Resources Gift Shop, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL
62702-1270; by calling 1 (800) 720-3249; or from outside Illinois by
calling (217) 782-1687.
[Illinois
Department of Natural Resources
news release] |
