Policy Priorities
More Than 60 Years of Institutional Knowledge
Openlands plays an integral role in ensuring that effective environmental protection policies become a reality. We work closely with government agencies, subject matter experts, and policymakers to develop new environmental conservation plans and practices created with all individuals in mind to render our communities, especially our most historically divested and vulnerable, more resilient to climate change.
POLICY
Our 2026 Policy Agenda
The greater Chicago region is governed by an unusually complex web of local decision making. With more units of government than any other metropolitan area in the nation, land policies are often fragmented and misaligned with the region’s shared natural landscapes. At the same time, municipalities and the State of Illinois face growing pressure from federal rollbacks, climate impacts, and development demands, making clear, land-centered leadership more essential than ever.
Our Long-term Priorities
Openlands’ agenda supports and leads initiatives that protect recreational rights, increase opportunities for equitable access to nature, and promote more effective management of natural resources close to home.
As Chicago’s regional land trust, Openlands advocates for protecting land and policies that ensure cleaner air, cleaner water, and wildlife habitat.
Openlands advocates for local, state, and federal policies that focus on smart land use and planning, strengthening a nature-based economy, and defending protected landscapes when they face new threats.
Policy News & Updates
The U.S. Department of the Interior’s decision to remove habitat destruction from the definition of …
The article discusses Studio Gang’s ‘Flyway City’ exhibit and mentions Openlands’ exhibit, ‘Chicago’s Living Habitat.’
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Michael Davidson, Eleanor Gorski, and Jeanne Gang, discuss ‘Flyway City’ and ‘Chicago’s Living Habitat’ exhibits.
…Meet Our Expert Staff
Connecting people to nature where they live.
As innovative protectors and stewards of the land since 1963, Openlands exists to create access to nature for all. Through local alliances, forward vision, and persistent action, Openlands connects and leads conservation work, serving as a guiding voice for communities, organizations, and more effective policy in northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region.