In Illinois, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) manages, conserves, and protects Illinois’ natural, recreational, and cultural resources. The IDNR also promotes the education, science, and the public safety of Illinois’ natural resources for present and future generations.
The general powers and duties of the IDNR are[i]:
- to investigate practical problems, implement studies, conduct research and provide assistance, information and data relating to the natural history, entomology, zoology, and botany of the state, the geology and natural resources of the state, the water and atmospheric resources of the state, and the archeological and cultural history of the state;
- to obtain, store, and process relevant data and recommend technological, administrative, and legislative changes and developments;
- to cooperate with other federal, state, and local governmental research agencies, facilities, or institutes in the selection of projects for study;
- to cooperate with the Board of Higher Education and with the public and private colleges and universities in the state in developing relevant interdisciplinary approaches to problems;
- to evaluate curricula at all levels of education and provide assistance to instructors;
- to sponsor an annual conference of leaders in government, industry, health, and education to evaluate the situation of the state’s environment and natural resources;
- to accept, receive, and administer any gifts, bequests, donations, income from property rental and endowments on behalf of the state;
- to make grants to local not-for-profit organizations for the purposes of development, maintenance, and study of wetland areas;
- to cooperate with and support the Illinois Science and Technology Advisory Committee and the Illinois Coalition for the purpose of facilitating the effective operations and activities of such entities; and
- to recognize, preserve, and promote the special heritage of Illinois with respect to recreational hunting and trapping by providing opportunities to hunt and trap in accordance with the Wildlife Code.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
[i] 20 ILCS 801/1-15.
