In Illinois, forests are a valuable natural resource that citizens collectively enjoy. Unfortunately, the forests that individuals once enjoyed face the challenges of deforestation, a form of environmental degradation that involves the mass clearing of forests for human production needs. Globally, deforestation reduces forest coverage by approximately 10 million hectares (ha) per year.
According to the Global Forest Watch, forest cover in Illinois has dramatically decreased over the past century; in an analysis provided by the GFW, Illinois tree cover declined by 28.8 kha between 2001 and 2024, accounting for 1.3% of the total tree area present in 2000. Of the deforestation recorded in the last 23 years, most tree loss stemmed from the establishment of permanent agriculture, followed by settlements or infrastructure, and hard commodities.
It is widely accepted that Illinois is a powerhouse in terms of agriculture; from its diverse crop offerings and thousands of farming communities, the state economy is built upon agriculture. According to the Illinois Department of Agriculture, agricultural lands take up 40% of Illinois. This percentage inevitably continues to increase as new lands are often cleared to keep up with consumer demands.
On the other hand, urbanization contributes to mass land clearances to expand city infrastructure and provide housing for thousands of Illinois citizens. Removal of trees that serve as ecosystem assets for air purification contributes to a phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect. Regions near Chicago, Illinois, and the Metro East suburbs of St. Louis experience disproportionate air quality threats, as forest clearances eliminate essential green space benefits.
Most recently, the Illinois General Assembly has put forth HB3197: The Deforestation Free IL Act. This bill aims to support sustainable forest usage within and outside of Illinois, as it prevents the State or government agencies from purchasing tropical hardwood products. Additionally, in collaboration with the state's Department of Natural Resources, the Illinois Forestry Development Council established the Illinois Forest Action Plan. This plan sets a 10-year agenda spanning from 2020 to 2030 of ways in which the state can pledge to limit further environmental degradation in state forests collectively.