Chapter 525 — CONSERVATION

(525 ILCS 5/1) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 9501) Sec. 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the Cave Protection Act. (Source: P.A. 84-140.)

(525 ILCS 5/2) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 9502) Sec. 2. As used in this Act, the following terms have the following meanings, unless the context otherwise requires: "Cave" means any naturally occurring void, cavity, recess, sinkhole or system of interconnecting passages beneath the s…

(525 ILCS 5/3) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 9503) Sec. 3. The Department may take special actions as necessary, consistent with the purposes of this Act, including but not limited to: (1) employment of cave resources management personnel; (2) appointment of volunteer cave management an…

(525 ILCS 5/4) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 9504) Sec. 4. The Director may also appoint an advisory council composed of individuals, members of organized caving groups or the scientific community for the purpose of developing regulations pursuant to this Act, reviewing management plans…

(525 ILCS 5/5) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 9505) Sec. 5. Owners of land shall not be liable for injuries, mental harm or death sustained by persons using their land, including but not limited to cave resources, for recreational, educational or scientific purposes. By granting permissi…

(525 ILCS 5/6) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 9506) Sec. 6. It shall be unlawful for any person, without the express written permission of the land owner, to: (a) Willfully or knowingly break, break off, crack, carve upon, write, burn, mark upon, remove, or in any manner destroy, disturb…

(525 ILCS 5/7) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 9507) Sec. 7. Any person who violates any provision of this Act shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. (Source: P.A. 84-140.)

(525 ILCS 10/1) (from Ch. 5, par. 931) Sec. 1. Short title. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the Illinois Exotic Weeds Act. (Source: P.A. 103-620, eff. 1-1-25.)

(525 ILCS 10/2) (from Ch. 5, par. 932) Sec. 2. Definition. In this Act: "Department" means the Department of Natural Resources. "Exotic weeds" means plants not native to North America which, when planted either spread vegetatively or naturalize and degrade natural communities, re…

(525 ILCS 10/3) (from Ch. 5, par. 933) Sec. 3. Designation of exotic weeds. The Department shall determine the plants that are exotic weeds for the purposes of this Act and shall compile and keep current a list of such exotic weeds, which list shall be published and incorporated …

(525 ILCS 10/4) (from Ch. 5, par. 934) Sec. 4. Control of exotic weeds. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person, corporation, political subdivision, agency or department of the State to buy, sell, offer for sale, distribute, or plant seeds, plants, or plant parts of exotic weeds …

(525 ILCS 10/5) (from Ch. 5, par. 935) Sec. 5. Penalty. Violators of this Act shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. When the violation is a continuing offense, each day shall be considered a separate violation. Exotic weeds offered for sale in Illinois except as provided in S…

(525 ILCS 15/1) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 9101) Sec. 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Illinois Forestry Development Act". (Source: P.A. 83-446.)

(525 ILCS 15/2) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 9102) Sec. 2. The following words shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this Section: (a) "Acceptable forest management practices" means preparation of a forest management plan, site preparation, brush control, purchase of planting sto…

(525 ILCS 15/3) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 9103) Sec. 3. The Department of Natural Resources shall administer this Act and shall promulgate rules and regulations for that purpose. (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

(525 ILCS 15/4) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 9104) Sec. 4. The Department shall: (a) Implement the forest development cost share program created by Section 5 of this Act and coordinate with the United States Department of Agriculture - Natural Resource Conservation Service and the Farm…

(525 ILCS 15/5) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 9105) Sec. 5. A forest development cost share program is created and shall be administered by the Department of Natural Resources. A timber grower who desires to participate in the cost share program shall devise a forest management plan. To…

(525 ILCS 15/6a) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 9106a) Sec. 6a. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06. Repealed internally, eff. 12-31-08.)

(525 ILCS 15/6b) Sec. 6b. Illinois Forestry Development Council. (a) The Illinois Forestry Development Council is created by this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly. (b) The Council shall consist of 29 members appointed as follows: (1) four members of the General Assembl…

(525 ILCS 15/7) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 9107) Sec. 7. The Illinois Forestry Development Fund, a special fund in the State Treasury, is hereby created. The Department of Natural Resources shall pay into the Fund all fees and fines collected from timber buyers and landowners and ope…

(525 ILCS 20/0.01) (from Ch. 61, par. 500) Sec. 0.01. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Ginseng Harvesting Act. (Source: P.A. 86-1324.)

(525 ILCS 20/1) (from Ch. 61, par. 501) Sec. 1. Definitions. As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires: (Source: P.A. 83-680.)

(525 ILCS 20/1a) (from Ch. 61, par. 502) Sec. 1a. "Cultivated ginseng" means ginseng growing in tilled beds under shade of artificial structures or under natural shade. (Source: P.A. 83-680.)

(525 ILCS 20/1b) (from Ch. 61, par. 503) Sec. 1b. "Department" means the Department of Natural Resources. (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

(525 ILCS 20/1c) (from Ch. 61, par. 504) Sec. 1c. "Director" means the Director of Natural Resources. (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

(525 ILCS 20/1d) (from Ch. 61, par. 505) Sec. 1d. "Ginseng" means the root of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium). (Source: P.A. 83-680.)

(525 ILCS 20/1e) (from Ch. 61, par. 506) Sec. 1e. "Wild ginseng" means ginseng in, or collected from, its native habitat, notwithstanding whether the ginseng occurs naturally from that habitat or was introduced or increased in abundance by sowing ginseng seed or by transplanting …

(525 ILCS 20/2) (from Ch. 61, par. 507) Sec. 2. Licenses. The following licensing provisions shall be applied by the Department: (Source: P.A. 83-680.)

(525 ILCS 20/2a) (from Ch. 61, par. 508) Sec. 2a. Harvest License. No person may cut, root up, gather or harvest wild ginseng unless the person has a harvest license issued by the Department. The fee for a harvest license is $7 and is valid from April 1 to March 31. A harvest lic…

(525 ILCS 20/2b) (from Ch. 61, par. 509) Sec. 2b. Grower's License. Any person engaged in the propagation and harvesting of cultivated ginseng shall secure a registered grower's license from the Department annually for a fee of $25.00. A grower's license shall authorize the harve…

(525 ILCS 20/2c) (from Ch. 61, par. 510) Sec. 2c. Dealer License. No person shall be engaged in the business of buying wild or cultivated ginseng from harvesters, growers or other dealers for resale to exporters or to other dealers unless the person has a license issued by the De…

(525 ILCS 20/2d) (from Ch. 61, par. 511) Sec. 2d. Purchase with Knowledge. No dealer may purchase wild ginseng or other protected plants if the person knows it was cut, dug, rooted up or gathered at some time other than the harvest season established pursuant to this Act. No deal…

(525 ILCS 20/2e) (from Ch. 61, par. 512) Sec. 2e. Certification. The Department must certify the origin and quantity of all ginseng harvested in the State of Illinois. Certifications will only be made within the boundaries of the State and only at the established offices of resid…

(525 ILCS 20/2f) (from Ch. 61, par. 513) Sec. 2f. Exception. Sections 2a and 3 do not apply to a person who roots up or destroys wild ginseng growing on the person's own land if the plants are not sold, bartered, traded or given away. (Source: P.A. 84-1065.)

(525 ILCS 20/2g) (from Ch. 61, par. 514) Sec. 2g. All fees, fines, and other income of whatsoever kind or nature derived from this Act shall be deposited in the Wildlife and Fish Fund in the State treasury. (Source: P.A. 83-680.)

(525 ILCS 20/3) (from Ch. 61, par. 515) Sec. 3. Harvest Season. The Department shall establish by administrative rule the legal season for cutting, digging up, rooting up or gathering wild ginseng. The harvest season for wild ginseng must be within the time period of August 1 to …

(525 ILCS 20/4) (from Ch. 61, par. 516) Sec. 4. Trespass to Harvest Ginseng. No person shall, without permission of the owner, enter the forest, field, yard, building, garden or other enclosure of another and willfully break down, dig, destroy, take or carry away any ginseng. (So…

(525 ILCS 20/5) (from Ch. 61, par. 517) Sec. 5. Penalties. Any person who knowingly violates any provision of this Act or rules promulgated under the authority of this Act is, for each offense, guilty of a class B misdemeanor. Ginseng possessed, harvested, cut, rooted up, gathere…

(525 ILCS 20/6) Sec. 6. Additional license revocation and denial provisions. (a) If a license has been issued to any person under this Act and that person is found guilty of any misrepresentation in obtaining that license or a violation of any of the provisions of this Act or its…

(525 ILCS 22/1) Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Healthy Forests, Wetlands, and Prairies Act. (Source: P.A. 103-923, eff. 1-1-25.)

(525 ILCS 22/10) Sec. 10. State goal. It is the goal of the State that there be no overall net loss of the State's existing forest, prairie, or wetland acres or their functional value due to State-supported activities. Further, the State and units of local government shall preser…

(525 ILCS 22/15) Sec. 15. Receipt of federal moneys. The Department of Natural Resources may receive federal moneys to administer a Healthy Forests, Wetlands, and Prairies Grant Program. (Source: P.A. 103-923, eff. 1-1-25.)

(525 ILCS 22/20) Sec. 20. Establishment of the Healthy Forests, Wetlands, and Prairies Grant Program. (a) The Department of Natural Resources, subject to appropriation, shall establish and administer a Healthy Forests, Wetlands, and Prairies Grant Program to restore degraded fore…

(525 ILCS 22/25) Sec. 25. Healthy Forests, Wetlands, and Prairies Grant Fund. The Healthy Forest, Wetlands, and Prairies Grant Fund shall be administered by the Department of Natural Resources. The Fund may receive moneys appropriated by the General Assembly or from the federal g…

(525 ILCS 22/5) Sec. 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds it is in the interest of the State to encourage natural solutions as one component of the State's efforts to reduce and remediate the impacts of climate change. Natural solutions must include planting native trees and o…

(525 ILCS 22/90) Sec. 90. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted). (Source: P.A. 103-923, eff. 1-1-25; text omitted.)

(525 ILCS 22/95) Sec. 95. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted). (Source: P.A. 103-923, eff. 1-1-25; text omitted.)

(525 ILCS 25/1) (from Ch. 19, par. 1401) Sec. 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Illinois Lake Management Program Act." (Source: P.A. 86-939.)

(525 ILCS 25/10) Sec. 10. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 97-213, eff. 7-28-11. Repealed by P.A. 98-692, eff. 7-1-14; 98-822, eff. 8-1-14.)

(525 ILCS 25/2) (from Ch. 19, par. 1402) Sec. 2. (a) The General Assembly finds and recognizes that: (1) Illinois' 2,900 lakes and 82,000 ponds provide many economic and social benefits including fishing, swimming, boating, water supply, wildlife habitat, flood control, tourism, …