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A forest with the sun setting behind the text "Forestry Stewardship Series"

Fire Ecology for Managing Grasslands and Woodlands

Forestry Stewardship Webinar Series 2026

Illinois is dominated by fire-adapted ecosystems from prairies to savannas to barrens and oak woodlands. Historically, fire played a key role in maintaining diversity, structure, and function in…

Webinar Registration

Milkweed seeds coming out of the pods

Reaping the Harvest: Collection, Processing, and Sowing of Native Seeds

Hosted by Wild Ones Lake-to-Prairie Chapter and the University of Illinois Extension Lake County
County: Lake

Seeds are key for restoring our ecosystems and adding native plants to our yards. As diverse as our native plants are, they are equally diverse in how they disperse their seeds. We'll look at…

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Milkweed seeds coming out of the pods

Reaping the Harvest: Collection, Processing, and Sowing of Native Seeds

Hosted by Wild Ones Lake-to-Prairie Chapter and the University of Illinois Extension Lake County
County: Lake

Seeds are key for restoring our ecosystems and adding native plants to our yards. As diverse as our native plants are, they are equally diverse in how they disperse their seeds. We'll look at…

Register Now

Hwy 180 New Mexico, Aldo Leopold wilderness prairie with clouds

Lessons from Leopold

Hosted by Wild Ones Lake-to-Prairie Chapter and the University of Illinois Extension Lake County
County: Lake
Please join us as we explore one of Aldo Leopold’s most famous stories about native landscaping; A Prairie Birthday. In this story, he compares the diversity of native plants on his ‘backwards’ farm…
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An invasive plant wrapping around another plant

Invasive Species, Native Landscaping & You

2026 Garden Learning Series
County: Lake
The University of Illinois Extension Lake County Master Gardeners, SWALCO, and the Lake County Forest Preserve District present the 2026 Garden Learning Series 
What are the top 13 invasive…
Register Here

News Releases

A field of crops, the Morrow Plot, on the U of I campus
Defining the modern ‘land-grant mission’ at ACES
The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign often cites its land-grant legacy, but the land-grant university system is not a well-known...
Woman showing gardeners a pollinator garden.
Grow healthier ecosystems at home this pollinator month
URBANA, Ill. — Planting native flowers in a backyard, patio container, or community garden can provide critical food and habitat for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. This June, in recognition of National Pollinator Month, University of Illinois Extension encourages community members to...
a group of people stand in a wetland
Study: 72% of Illinois wetlands no longer protected by federal Clean Water Act
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois once harbored more than 8 million acres of wetlands. By the 1980s, all but 1.2 million wetland acres had been lost, filled in for development or drained to make way for agriculture. Now, thanks to a 2023 Supreme Court decision, roughly 72% of the remaining 981,000...
A woodland with blue flowering plants
A century of data reveals declining forest diversity
URBANA, Ill. — Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have analyzed 96 years of forest census data to better understand ecological changes and inform management practices. Their study...
Prairie plants
Illinois plant ecologists fight to restore Midwest biodiversity
URBANA, Ill. — Imagine a prairie. How many plant species do you see? Maybe you’re picturing yellow coneflowers, some little bluestem, perhaps a few asters. But plant ecologists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign say these ecosystems are much more...
A woman stands in a grassy field holding a long blade of grass
Can one person make a difference on environmental issues?
Global environmental issues like habitat loss and pollution can feel overwhelming. Can one person’s actions make a difference? Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy Educator Erin Garrett believes so. Garrett provides programs for southern Illinois in...
Associate Dean and Director of Extension Shelly Nickols-Richardson
Why does the state need Illinois Extension?
The University of Illinois Extension just released a 10-year strategic plan that commits to serving the state by focusing on food and agriculture as well as the...