The Chicago Nature and Wildlife Plan is a first-of-its-kind project to protect and expand individual landscapes and ecosystems across the city. With its associated Chicago Nature Areas Directory, the Plan has identified more than 4,800 acres of wildlife habitats and potential restoration areas at 97 sites, predominantly located along the shorelines of Lake Michigan and Lake Calumet and the banks of the Chicago River. The Plan has four goals:

Protect all publicly owned natural lands, including acquiring or leasing additional property, and make natural and man-made structures more wildlife friendly.

Manage techniques that sustain and expand native flora, fauna and aquatic systems in natural areas.

Monitor additional scientific data that will assist decision making on habitat improvement efforts.

Educate Chicagoans on how nature and wildlife benefit the home, office and neighborhoods.