By Isabelle Molitor, August 2026
Why is protecting a diversity of habitat important? A habitat is an environment that meets all of an organism’s needs to survive. Different species of plants and animals require unique conditions. By protecting a variety of habitat types, NLI is also protecting the wildlife that lives within them. Additionally, these habitats have benefits to humans beyond aesthetics.
Restored Prairie at Lost Flora Fen Preserve. Photo by Isabelle Molitor.
Prairie
The climate and topography of Illinois creates the perfect conditions for prairie habitat, as there used to be around 22 million acres of prairie in the state. Due to habitat loss and urban expansion, less than 0.01% of these original prairies remain. The original Illinois prairies were home to bears, wolves, bison, elk, as well as many species of birds, insects, and reptiles. Although the wildlife of the Illinois prairie is different now, prairies are still an important source of habitat and have many ecosystem-level benefits. One of the most fascinating sights to observe in the prairie is the relationship between plants and their pollinators. Pollinators need native plants to survive, and the prairie would not exist without the pollinators. Walking along the edge of a trail, you might find a patch of Wild Bergamot with a swarm of bumble bees buzzing between flowers. One of my favorite examples is the Monarch butterfly and Milkweed plant. The Monarch will lay her eggs on the underside of a leaf, and when the caterpillar eventually hatches, its main food source is the Milkweed until it forms its chrysalis. Prairies are a common feature of Natural Land Institute preserves. If you are interested in exploring prairie habitat, visit Carl & Myrna Nygren Wetland Preserve, Lind-McGeachie Preserve, Lost Flora Fen on Raccoon Creek, or William & Gayle Keefer Nature Reserve.
Wetland
Wetland are a unique habitat type in which the soil is saturated with water. This water can be present seasonally or permanently. These soils are considered hydric, and the plants that grow within them are hydrophytes. Wetlands offer habitat for many species of aquatic birds. The American Coot, Blue Winged Teal, Common Gallinule, Great Blue Heron, Virginia Rail, Sandhill Crane, are all species that utilize marshes and wetlands in the Great Lakes Region. For part of the year, migratory birds depend on wetland habitats to nest and raise young. Wetlands also provide a source of food during migration, and have numerous benefits to humans as well. Plants fix carbon from the atmosphere through photosynthesis, which will eventually become organic matter after the plant dies. The acidity of the wetland soil slows down decomposition rates, storing the carbon from the plants. This process is called carbon sequestration. When wetlands are disturbed or destroyed, the carbon they store returns to the atmosphere. By protecting wetlands, we are helping the planet regulate the climate and carbon levels. As the soil of a wetland can retain higher levels of water than most urban areas, wetlands are also beneficial in protecting against floods. One of the best places in northern Illinois to observe wetlands and wildlife is Carl & Myrna Nygren Wetland Preserve. This preserve is known as an excellent spot for birding as well.
A shaded forest trail at Lind-McGeachie Preserve. Photo by Isabelle Molitor.
Forest
When you envision the perfect nature hike, you might picture a trail cutting under a canopy of leaves, surrounded by dense green vegetation. While forests provide shaded cover for hiking, they also do so much more for wildlife and the planet. For many species, a forest provides shelter and food. Trees give birds places to nest and raise their young, and in return birds balance forest ecosystems through predation and pollination. In urban areas, forests provide wildlife with safety. Similar to wetlands, the trees in forests sequester carbon through photosynthesis, reducing the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. Trees also have the ability to filter air pollutants. The shade produced by trees cools air temperatures, reducing the amount of energy needed for heating and cooling. Trees and other plants also reduce temperatures through transpiration. Transpiration is when plants release water vapor into the air. Without forests, areas can become urban heat islands, an effect in which cities are significantly warmer than the surrounding areas. Not all forest habitat is managed the same. Forests can be managed for wildlife, timber, recreation, or to promote growth of specific species. You can visit a variety of forest habitat at NLI preserves. William & Gayle Keefer Nature Reserve and Lind-McGeachie Preserve both feature woodland habitat with mostly shaded trails.
Streams and Creeks
While streams or creeks may seem like a small part of other habitat types, they actually function as individual habitat with unique ecosystems. Small streams are important indicators of ecosystem health, and also provide habitat for aquatic species. Fish, birds, insects, and amphibians rely on streams. Streams recharge groundwater levels, protect against flooding, and help filter pollutants out. Many of the organisms living in streams are tiny and challenging to spot. Macroinvertebrates, organisms without a backbone that are still visible without a microscope, often hide under rocks and can resemble sediment or sticks. One way to identify the health of a stream is to measure the percent EPT. EPT represents the percentage of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Tricoptera identified. These are types of macroinvertebrates that are sensitive to pollutants in the water, so a high percentage of EPT means the stream has high water quality. During the 2026 Bioblitz event held at Silver Creek Woods Preserve, staff and community scientists took samples to identify macroinvertebrates found in Silver Creek. A Stonefly was found in the creek during the Bioblitz and is an indicator of a high-quality stream. Additionally Raccoon Creek flows through several of NLI’s properties. Many species of mussels are found in this creek. The uncommon and threatened Creek Heelsplitter was recently found in Raccoon Creek.
Raccoon Creek photographed by Rob Clark.
View of the wetland from the wildlife overlook at Nygren Wetland Preserve. Photo by Mark Blassage.