The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has partnered with the Illinois Natural History Survey to create six field-based Conservation Resource Specialists positions. Their role is to bridge the gap between county, state, and federal agencies, the scientific community, and, most importantly, landowners associated with the Illinois Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).
The specialists’ primary function is to facilitate new easement enrollments, support agency partners, monitor existing easements, and provide technical support to landowners. In addition, they create habitat management plans, compile best management practices implemented at CREP easements, facilitate and assist research efforts at CREP easements, and document landowner perceptions. Through this work, the program aims to better understand the ecological and societal impacts of CREP and to apply this understanding to more effectively engage with stakeholders.
For more information on the Conservation Reserve Enhancement program, please visit the IDNR CREP page.
The current Conservation Resource Specialist team is listed in the Stream Ecology Lab Directory.