We bring leaders, experts, mid- and young-career conservation professionals together to share diverse voices, perspectives and work toward a common vision: creating and protecting a vibrant, accessible region where people and nature thrive. Our region is home to a spectacular assemblage of rare ecosystems and diverse plant and animal species. Our collective efforts using science and data-driven approaches to restore, manage and protect natural areas contributes to a more climate resilient region. This work is more urgent than ever as climate change increasingly threatens human health, quality of life, food security, economies and biodiversity. The Alliance focuses on landscape-scale efforts across the southern Lake Michigan region because nature needs connections across all geopolitical boundaries. Working together, Alliance members identify conservation priorities; develop and implement long-term regional conservation plans; and collectively enhance, elevate and celebrate our individual members’ work, all at the regional scale. Our Green Vision Initiatives
The Green Vision Initiatives are a centralized framework to guide, track and implement progress toward a common vision and an inclusive approach to thriving nature for people and wildlife. The executive order issued by President Biden to conserve 30% of land and water by 2030 sparks renewed momentum. In the largely urbanized areas of the four-state Chicago Wilderness Alliance region, the capacity to deliver on the 30 by 30 goals will come not just from traditional conservation lands and waters, but from activating every land type — agricultural, residential, corporate — to contribute meaningfully to landscape-scale conservation. Our Green Vision Initiatives include seven key thematic areas: conserving and managing healthy landscapes and protecting water; regenerative agriculture; green infrastructure; increasing access to nature, and taking climate action. All goals are centralized using a mapping tool that empowers regional partners to visualize, share and track progress. Each theme is brought to life by teams that provide opportunities for the Alliance to engage, contribute and collaborate on our shared goals. Contact Us
Laura Reilly, Chicago Wilderness Alliance coordinator
[email protected]
