CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN PLANTS OF CONCERN

Plants of Concern, launched in 2000, is a rare plant monitoring program designed to gather standardized, regional monitoring data over time to learn population trends in relation to management practices. The program is a collaboration of trained volunteer monitors working together with land managers and scientists. The data collected are providing land managers with information that helps them set management goals for species within a community context and evaluate management practices. This long-term project is part of the Chicago Wilderness Biodiversity Recovery Plan goal to assess, research, protect and recover the region’s rare plants.

Plants of Concern is coordinated by the Chicago Botanic Garden, having strong partnerships with local, state, federal and non-profit agencies. It has been funded by Chicago Wilderness, Illinois Department of Natural Resources (Wildlife Preservation Fund and Conservation 2000), National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, and CorLands (Corporation for Open Lands).