Who We Are |
A statewide voice for Illinois forests
In the summer of 2005, forestry leaders and concerned citizens gathered in Springfield for a Forestry Summit to examine the challenges and opportunities facing forests across Illinois. One of the summit’s most lasting outcomes was the creation of the Illinois Forestry Association (IFA).
Today, IFA is a grassroots organization that brings together people who care deeply about the future of Illinois' forests. Our members include forest landowners, farmers, small-acreage owners, forestry and natural resource professionals, arborists, community foresters, educators, researchers, wood-using businesses, conservation organizations, retirees, and others who share a common connection to the land.
We may come from different backgrounds, but we are united by a simple belief: healthy forests matter—to Illinois, to our communities, and to generations yet to come.
IFA exists to educate, connect, and inspire action on behalf of Illinois forests. We promote responsible forest stewardship, support research and education, encourage sound forest management, and build partnerships that strengthen forestry across the state.
Our MissionChampion the growth of forests and forestry in Illinois. | Our VisionA future where healthy forests and abundant wildlife are part of every Illinois community. |
What We Value
Illinois Forests
Forests are essential to the health and well-being of Illinois. They provide wildlife habitat, protect soil and water, improve air quality, offer recreational opportunities, produce timber and forest products, and enrich the landscape we call home.
Forests are home to approximately 61% of Illinois' native flora and 75% of the state's wildlife habitat. Forestry and forest products also make a significant contribution to the state's economy.
Yet Illinois has lost much of its historic forest cover. Forests once covered approximately 40% of the state; today, they cover about 15%. Much of the remaining forestland faces increasing challenges from invasive species, changing conditions, fragmentation, development, and a lack of active management.
Healthy forests don't happen by accident. They require knowledge, commitment, and stewardship.
Forest Landowners and Our Members
Private landowners are the primary stewards of Illinois' forests. Approximately 80% of the state's forestland is privately owned, making landowners essential partners in sustaining healthy forests for the future.
IFA supports landowners by sharing information, connecting them with forestry professionals, providing opportunities to learn from one another, and demonstrating practical approaches to forest stewardship.
We also recognize that every woodland is different. Good stewardship begins with understanding the land, its history, its potential, and the goals of the people who care for it.
Research and Education
Our understanding of forests is continually evolving. New research, changing environmental conditions, emerging threats, and new approaches to forest management all shape the way we care for Illinois woodlands.
IFA promotes lifelong learning through educational programs, field days, workshops, webinars, demonstrations, and partnerships with researchers, universities, agencies, and forestry professionals.
As forestland changes hands from one generation to the next, sharing knowledge becomes even more important. Education is one of the most lasting investments we can make in the future of Illinois forests.
Partnerships
No single organization can address the challenges facing Illinois forests alone.
IFA works alongside landowners, forestry professionals, universities, conservation organizations, businesses, and state and federal agencies to share knowledge, strengthen resources, and advance common goals.
We believe collaboration makes all of us more effective. We strive to build relationships based on respect, integrity, inclusivity, and a shared commitment to healthy forests.
Research and Education
Our understanding of forests is continually evolving. New research, changing environmental conditions, emerging threats, and new approaches to forest management all shape the way we care for Illinois woodlands.
IFA promotes lifelong learning through educational programs, field days, workshops, webinars, demonstrations, and partnerships with researchers, universities, agencies, and forestry professionals.
As forestland changes hands from one generation to the next, sharing knowledge becomes even more important. Education is one of the most lasting investments we can make in the future of Illinois forests.
Partnerships
No single organization can address the challenges facing Illinois forests alone.
IFA works alongside landowners, forestry professionals, universities, conservation organizations, businesses, and state and federal agencies to share knowledge, strengthen resources, and advance common goals.
We believe collaboration makes all of us more effective. We strive to build relationships based on respect, integrity, inclusivity, and a shared commitment to healthy forests.
Growing Together
From the beginning, IFA has been built on partnership. Our charter members and early partners represented a broad cross-section of Illinois forestry and conservation—from individual landowners and local conservation districts to universities, forestry organizations, government agencies, and regional resource organizations.
Their commitment established a foundation that continues to shape IFA today.
The Illinois Forestry Association is a community of people who believe Illinois forests are worth knowing, managing, protecting, and passing on.
