Argyle Lake State Park
By Wendy J. Paulson | Special to The State Journal-Register
Governor JB Pritzker has built one of the strongest climate action records in the country– and now has the chance to make it even stronger. Healthy, resilient nature is a key part of the equation, one that can drive more economic investment to the state.
A transformational appointment for the next Director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) can extend his leadership through visionary investment in nature.
IDNR’s mission is to steward the state’s natural resources for the health of ecosystems and the well-being of residents. That extends beyond state parks and nature preserves to ensuring that all of Illinois’ lands and waters are healthy and beautiful.
People choose where to live based on quality of life. Nature plays a big role in that choice. Access to parks, trails, clean water, and vibrant natural areas is exactly what makes a place feel compelling.
It’s why families put down roots, why young professionals choose one city over another, and why retirees decide to stay. Businesses know this too. When they’re deciding where to locate and how to attract talent, they look for places their employees want to live. Investing in Illinois’ nature and open spaces isn’t just good for our ecosystems — it’s an investment in the very things that make people want to build their futures here.
As a former Chair of the Forest Preserves of Cook County’s Conservation and Policy Council, I saw firsthand how good leadership can nurture the land and the communities that depend on it. Deer Grove East Forest Preserve is one such success story. Once degraded agricultural land, it was restored back to thriving wetlands, woodlands, and prairie.
An economic analysis of the restoration work found that every dollar spent on restoration delivered an immediate $2 return from jobs and economic activity. In the long term, it delivered a whopping $6 return from flood control, water quality benefits, and recreational activity. Today, Deer Grove is one of the most visited public open spaces in Cook County. At the scale of the state, the health and economic benefits of this type of conservation are indisputable- and within reach.
Cook County voters understand this and responded in 2022 by passing, with an overwhelming majority, a ballot measure that increases investment in nature by $45 million a year. The five collar counties followed suit in 2024, generating over a billion dollars over the next twenty years for nature.
That kind of success shows just how much appetite there is for this work. The moment is ripe to bring it to scale statewide, so all Illinoisans can benefit from access to nature.
There’s real headroom here. Illinois has lost more than 99% of the state’s original prairie and over 85% of its historic wetlands, and ranks 49th in the nation in protected natural areas per capita – which means many of our natural habitats remain fragmented.
As climate change reshapes ecosystems across the country, Illinois has the chance to step up and play a leading role. A transformational leader at IDNR could turn the page for Illinois public lands, tackling the state parks capital backlog and reconnecting natural habitats.
We love the Prairie State. Governor Pritzker loves it too. A transformational appointment for the IDNR is his opportunity to write the next chapter of that legacy.
Wendy J. Paulson is executive chairman of the Bobolink Foundation and served as past chairman of The Nature Conservancy of Illinois and past chairman of The Conservation & Policy Council of Cook County. She lives in Barrington, IL.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Why Pritzker needs a transformational appointment for IDNR | Opinion
