Better understand the response of wildlife populations to forest management activities under the wildlife action plan

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources received a Formula Grant award of $133,333.00 from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service (DOI FWS) Region 3 under the Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety program (CFDA 15.611) effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. This grant funds research and monitoring activities designed to enhance understanding of how forest management practices impact wildlife populations, particularly birds and other fauna, in support of Illinois' Wildlife Action Plan implementation. The project delivers scientific research products that inform evidence-based forest management decisions and contribute to improved wildlife conservation outcomes across the state.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign serves as a sub-grantee on this project, leveraging academic research expertise to conduct wildlife population assessments and analysis related to forest management impacts. The funding supports the core mission of the Wildlife Restoration program, which provides federal resources to state fish and wildlife agencies for wildlife habitat restoration, management research, and population surveys. Deliverables under this award include research findings and data products that advance the scientific understanding of wildlife responses to forest stewardship activities, supporting more informed natural resource management decisions by state wildlife professionals.

Expected benefits of this project are a greater understanding of how forest management activities impact birds and other wildlife. University of illinois urbana champaign is an expected subgrantee of this project.