New Map Shows Natural Connections

The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) and Openlands Project have produced a new map illustrating the "green infrastructure" of 14 counties in southeastern Wisconsin, northeastern Illinois, and northwestern Indiana. Green infrastructure, as they define it, is "the interconnected network of land and water that supports native species, maintains natural and ecological processes, sustains air and water resources, and contributes to the health and quality of life of people and communities."

Funded by the Joyce Foundation, the mapping project incorporated data from 32 sources. "We hope this map can serve as a strategic framework for conservation and development," says CNT's Karen Hobbs, "so that linkages and key natural areas can be preserved before development occurs." The map identifies 12 opportunities for greater cooperation between Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana for acquisition, restoration, and management of natural areas.

The map and detailed information from a vast database can be downloaded from the Natural Connections site. For a free printed copy, contact Ruth Williams at rwilliams@openlands.org.