ities Welt ON a aisaU Late bade LN 11 
berry, and yellow poplar, hill and railroad prairies, water tupelo and bald 
cypress swamps and sloughs, and natural red cedar-winged elm communi- 
ties on solid rock outcrops. Plant species found in these communities are 
commonly found to the south or east, many as far east as the Smokey 
Mountains. 
Space does not permit a discussion of the total variety of natural 
areas that could be found in Illinois. For more detail on many typical 
areas now protected, consult “A Directory of Illinois Nature Preserves” 
prepared by the Illinois Department of Conservation and the [Illinois 
Nature Preserves Commission. 
Illinois still has some relatively undisturbed habitats, floras, and 
faunas that need protection. Many will soon be lost forever as the tremen- 
dous pressure to “develop” these ecosystems continues. he long predicted 
energy crisis has arrived and can only aggravate the situation. Various 
agencies and organizations are working to identify and save what remains 
of the natural areas and within the next year we can probably expect 
progress in that direction. There remains little doubt that we must work 
hard to preserve remnants of our natural heritage. 
“There 1s high scientific value in preserving samples of typical 
environments both those little disturbed by man and those 
which he has materially modified ... Areas preserved for long- 
term scientific use provide natural laboratories for the study 
of ecosystems in all their complexity ... They can serve as 
check areas or yard sticks for the use, protection, and manage- 
ment of comparable areas of land and water... They are 
reservoirs of genetic materials which may one day prove to be 
of economic medicinal value.” 
—(International Biological Program, 1967 ) 
PGE RAG RESCLb ED: 
Franklin, J. F., R. E. Jenkins, and R. M. Roncier. 1972. Research Natural 
oa Contibutor tov Enuronmental Quality Programs. J. Environ 
Quality, Vol. 1: 133-139. 
Iltis, H. H. 1959. We Need Many More Scientific Areas. Wis. Con. Bull. 
Vol. 24: 3-8. 
International Biological Program. 1967. Program Statement, Subcom- 
mittee on Conservation of Ecosystems: U.S. National Committee. 
Dale 
Leopold, A. 1949. A Sand County Almanac. Oxford Univ. Press. New 
Otc 09D: 
Moir, W. H. 1972. Natural Areas. Science Vol. 177: 396-400. 
Snow, J. A. 1971. Ecostrategies and Ecotactics. Environ. Sci. Tech. Vol. 
FR 
