Plant Science and Conservation
• Restoration Ecology
• Lake Ecosystems
• Prairie Ecosytems
• River Ecosystems
• Woodland Ecosystems
Once a region rich in biodiversity, the Chicago area has suffered species loss due to urban and agricultural development, invasive species, climate change and myriad other habitat modifications. Here at the Garden, scientists have created and restored native plant and animal communities encompassing nearly 200 acres. This effort to understand our region’s biological heritage, assess current threats to ecosystem health and discover improved ways to remediate these threats helps us partner with others working toward conservation of our lake, prairie, river and woodland ecosystems. Throughout all of our research and management efforts, we continually seek new opportunities to make conservation of native ecosystems relevant and of value to our visitors and our region’s residents.
