What is Chicago Wilderness?

The Chicago Wilderness Region

Embedded in one of North America’s largest metropolitan regions and stretching from southeastern Wisconsin, through northeastern Illinois, into northwestern Indiana and southwestern Michigan is a network of natural areas that includes nearly 370,000 acres of protected lands and waters. These natural areas are Chicago’s wilderness, and they are home to a wide diversity of life. Thousands of native plant and animal species live here among the more than nine million people who also call the region home.

The Chicago Wilderness Alliance

Chicago Wilderness is a regional alliance that connects people and nature. We are more than 250 organizations that work together to restore local nature and improve the quality of life for all who live here, by protecting the lands and waters on which we all depend. Our four key initiatives—to restore the health of local nature, green infrastructure, combat climate change, and leave no child inside—reflect our commitment to using science and emerging knowledge, as well as a collaborative approach to conservation, to benefit all the region’s residents.

The members of Chicago Wilderness include local, state and federal agencies, large conservation organizations, cultural and education institutions, volunteer groups, municipalities, corporations, and faith-based groups. chicagowilderness.org