Section 1523.20  Definitions

"Best Management Practices (BMPs)" include a broad range of conservation practices that individually or in combination help to reduce or prevent adverse impacts to the landscape or ecosystem.

"Comprehensive Environmental Review Process (CERP)" means the internal process used by the Department to review its actions, including funding of grants or projects, to insure the greatest protection of all natural and cultural resources to the extent possible and for compliance with Illinois and federal environmental statutes regarding the protection of vulnerable natural or cultural resources, including but not limited to, natural areas, wetlands, threatened and endangered species, and archeological sites.

"Conservation 2000 Administrator" means the Ecosystems Division Administrator charged with the responsibility for the development of policy, management and administration of Conservation 2000 for the Department.

"Department" means the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

"Director" means Director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, or his designee.

"Ecosystem Administrator " means a regional Department staff person who is  the primary contact to an Ecosystem Partnership.

"Ecosystem Partnership " means a coalition of individuals and organizations, designated by the Director, who work cooperatively to promote habitat preservation, restoration and enhancement of natural ecosystems within the context of the human environment.  The term partnership does not meet the legal criteria of a partnership as defined in the Uniform Partnership Act [805 ILCS 205].

"Ecosystem Partnership Area" means the area within the boundaries of a designated Ecosystem Partnership as requested by and on record with the Department.

"Ecosystem Partnership Support Grant" means a grant made to Ecosystem Partnerships to provide funding to help with expenses incurred in the areas of maintenance, education, communication and administration.

"Ecosystem Project Grants " means competitively funded  projects designed to protect, enhance or restore biodiversity of ecosystems, in a manner that is compatible with economic development and sustainable land use practices  within specific Ecosystem Partnership Areas within the following criteria :

"Habitat Grant" means a category of grant that will result in the installation of land and water management, creation, restoration and enhancement practices that promote increased biodiversity or improved ecological functions.  These practices should follow the Program Guidance, be based upon habitat restoration literature or commonly used habitat restoration practices, have long-term ecological benefits, and be as self-sustaining as possible.

"Land Acquisition/Easement Grant" means a category of grant that will result in 30 year/perpetual easements and fee simple acquisitions that protect habitat and restore ecosystem functions.

"Outreach/Education Grant" means a category of grant that will result in projects that reach a target audience, informing them of the importance of or techniques used in the restoration, preservation, and/or management of ecosystems and biodiversity.

"Planning Grant" means a category of grant that will result in development of plans that integrate Ecosystem Partnership goals with Program Guidance principles and/or with the mission of related and relevant programs.

"Research Grant" means a category of grant that will result in investigation, data analysis, and research of ecological factors in the Ecosystem Partnership Area that can be used to advance Ecosystem Partnership goals and the Ecosystem Program's mission.

"Resource Economics Grant" means a category of grant that will result in unique economic development projects directly associated with human access or sustainable non-destructive use of an ecosystem.

"Local Partnership Council (LPC)" means the governing body of the Ecosystem Partnership.

"Program Guidance" means a document developed and released by the Department that provides periodic updates on the mission, goals, objectives, and direction of Conservation 2000.  The document expands upon the 9 criteria that define the role of an Ecosystem Partnership which are to:  acquire, protect and restore natural resources of local and State significance; acquire, preserve, and restore habitat areas that meet minimum functional habitat area guidelines; develop and implement restoration/recovery of species "guilds" or insure diversity of habitat; create, protect, and restore adequate buffer to protect sensitive habitats from non-compatible land uses; connect habitat areas; use ecosystem-based Best Management Practices; restore and naturalize hydrologic functions; develop educational strategies that complement ecosystem protection, restoration and enhancement activities; integrate research and monitoring into partnership and program work; integrate the ecosystems program with other local, State and federal programs and initiatives.

"Vision Plan" means a strategic document developed by an Ecosystem Partnership that identifies natural resource issues and provides realistic ecosystem-based strategies that should be undertaken to achieve a set of desired goals and objectives.  The Vision Plan outlines citizens', local governments', private organizations' and businesses' role in the stewardship of the Ecosystem Partnership Area's natural and cultural resources.  The Vision Plan will follow an outline and results-based planning framework (Vision Plan Framework) developed by the Department's Ecosystems Division.

"Vision Plan Framework" means a guidance document developed by the Department's Ecosystems Division outlining a process and requirements for developing a Vision Plan.  The Vision Plan Framework will be updated as necessary and provided to Ecosystem Partnerships.

(Source:  Amended at 27 Ill. Reg. 1144, effective January 9, 2003)