Natural areas and farms may seem like they would be at odds, but they share a powerful, mutually beneficial relationship.
Large, unbroken natural areas are rare in Illinois. Many animals suffer because their habitats have become isolated. Farmland can act as a “stepping stone” that connects otherwise fractured habitats. Farmers can help, too, by leaving parts of their land semi-wild, such as leaving woods and grassy areas intact or rotating crops and grazing.
In turn, pollinators and natural predators, like birds and ladybugs, help crops thrive. Woods and prairies hold soils in place and filter pollutants out of drinking water.
When natural areas are preserved near farmland, wildlife populations are healthier and more diverse, which translates to better yields for farmers. When farmland is preserved near natural areas, there is a better chance that wild lands will not be developed.
The collaboration between farms and natural habitats is essential for ecosystems and building a better world. That’s why conserving both is important.
