What We Do

Our conservation vision is to provide enduring resource benefits through strategic conservation actions that support a growing conservation estate and a more resilient landscape throughout Illinois, Iowa and the greater Midwest.

If you require a review of your project with a federal nexus (funding or permitting) for impacts to federally listed species or critical habitat, please visit our IPaC IPaC
Information for Planning and Consultation (IPaC) is a project planning tool that streamlines the USFWS environmental review process

Learn more about IPaC
system (https://ipac.ecosphere.fws.gov) and visit our project review page for more information.

Our Services

Butterfly rests on tall flowering plant.

The purpose of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is to provide a means to conserve the ecosystems upon which endangered and threatened species depend and provide a program for the conservation of such species. The ESA directs all federal agencies to participate in conserving these species....

Mojave desert tortoise

Since two-thirds of federally listed species have at least some habitat on private land, and some species have most of their remaining habitat on private land, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has developed an array of tools and incentives to protect the...

Tortoises saved and released on Eglin range

The Sikes Act requires most military installations within the United States to develop and implement a comprehensive plan for natural resource conservation and management (e.g., fish and wildlife, forestry, land management, outdoor recreation) on the installation. This conservation plan, known...

Screen capture of IPaC homepage.

Information for Planning and Consultation (IPaC) is a digital project planning tool that provides information to project proponents to help determine whether a project will have effects on federally listed species or designated critical habitat, as well as other sensitive resources managed...

Our Projects and Research

Laws and Regulations

Authorities under which we provide technical assistance and guidance to support conservation: