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Douglas-Hart Nature Center

{{Short description|Nature reserve in Illinois, United States}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

File:DHNC grounds.jpg

The Douglas-Hart Nature Center, located in Mattoon, Illinois is a nature reserve that offers visitors different Illinois habitats, field programs, environmental educational classes, and volunteer opportunities for all ages.

In the 1960s Helen Douglas-Hart and her foundation began work on a 33-acre nature preserve in Coles County, Illinois. Today, DHNC provides protection for three of Illinois primary habitats: tall grass prairie, native forest woodlands, and wetlands, on approximately 70 acres. There are two miles of trails that pass through each local habitat.{{cite web |author=Douglas-Hart Nature Center|url=http://www.dhnature.org/helen-douglas-hart.html |title=Helen Burgner Douglas-Hart|access-date=23 April 2014|work=Douglas-Hart Nature Center|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117131306/https://www.dhnature.org/helen-douglas-hart.html|archive-date=17 January 2018}}{{cite book|author=W.G.Zyznieuski & G.S.Zyznieuski |year=2002|title=A Guide to Illinois Nature Centers & Interpretive Trails |ISBN=0-8093-2430-X}}

Illinois Habitats

Conservation of the three environmental biotopes native to Illinois is the primary directive of Douglas-Hart Nature Center. The biological communities that compose Illinois tall grass prairies, native forest woodlands, and wetlands are area specific, including plant and animal inhabitants, soil and growth characteristics.

=Tall Grass Prairies=

The native tall grass prairies under protection of DHNC are the most important habitat on the conservancy site. Before widespread settling in Illinois, prairie habitat covered 2/3 of the state. Now, prairie grass covers less than 1% of Illinois.{{cite web|author=Illinois Department of Natural Resources|url=http://dnr.state.il.us/orep/pfc/guide/habitats/grasslands/protection.htm|title=Protecting and Managing Grasslands|date=19 September 2011|access-date=23 April 2014|work=Creating Habitats and Homes for Illinois Wildlife|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106225215/http://dnr.state.il.us/orep/pfc/guide/habitats/grasslands/protection.htm|archive-date=6 January 2014}} Given the rampant destruction of this endangered habitat, both plants and animals that require the conditions of this biotope have decreased exponentially. Some populations of grassland birds, over the last century, have declined by 95%. Figures such as these reiterate the important role conservancies such as DHNC play in maintaining Illinois habitats.{{cite web |author=Ken Robertson (University of Illinois)|url=http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~kenr/prairierestoration.html |title=The Tallgrass Prairie in Illinois|date=19 September 2011|access-date=23 April 2014|work="Prairie Restoration"}}

=Wetlands=

The aquatic habitats found at DHNC consist of natural wetlands. In many cases, wetlands, as we have come to know them, are modified or completely artificial.{{cite web|author=Illinois Department of Natural Resources|url=http://dnr.state.il.us/orep/pfc/guide/habitats/wetlands/definition.htm|title=What Defines Aquatic Habitat|date=19 September 2011|access-date=23 April 2014|work=Creating Habitats and Homes for Illinois Wildlife|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109154406/http://dnr.state.il.us/orep/pfc/guide/habitats/wetlands/definition.htm|archive-date=9 November 2013}} The wetlands on the conservancy site are made up of the following types:

  • Forested Wetland,
  • Sedge Meadow,
  • Surface Pond, and
  • Marshland.

Each of these aquatic environments supports various waterfowl, migratory birds, and provides breeding grounds for native species of reptiles and amphibians. These varied wetlands comprise 12 of the 70 acres at DHNC and are equipped with an observation or “lookout” area. However, the wetlands on the conservancy site are in danger. Like many of the natural wetland areas in Illinois, climatic shift is negatively impacting this natural biotope."{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}"

=Native Forest Woodlands=

Native deciduous and coniferous trees comprise the majority of the [http://web.extension.illinois.edu/forestry/il_forest_facts.html woodlands] at DHNC. According to a survey of the area conducted by [https://web.archive.org/web/20120402161743/http://www.cinram.umn.edu/afta2005/pdf/Dawson.PDF The University of Illinois], native trees were present at the site in a 2:1 ratio.Wang, Jing-Shu, Saeed A. Khan, and Jeffrey O. Dawson. "NITROGEN FIXING TREES INFLUENCE CONCENTRATIONS OF AMMONIUM." AFTA 2005 Conference Proceedings. (2005): 1-17. Web. 19 Sep. 2011. Also, the site boosts over 60 species of trees, many native to the state of Illinois. Many of the trees native to the area are labeled for ease of identification by visitors. It is important to note that, even though this biotope is perhaps the best preserved of the three habitats at DHNC, woodlands in Illinois require just as much conservation as the others. Only 12% of the land area in Illinois remains forested compared to 40% before European settling."Illinois Forest Facts." Illinois Forestry. University of Illinois Extension Office, n.d. Web. 19 Sep 2011. . This represents a nearly 75% decrease in forested area in the state of Illinois alone. Thus, the native forest woodlands are requiring just as much care as the other habitats.

Douglas-Hart Nature Center's Plant Registry

The following list of live plants and trees at Douglas-Hart Nature Center, in Mattoon, Illinois, is supplied by specialists currently working at the conservancy site.Radford, Dakota. "DHNC Plant Registry." WeDHNC. 2012. Microsoft Word Document. Web. 17 Jan 2012.

{| style="width:100%;"

|-

| style="width:50%; vertical-align:top;"|

=Native Plants of the Tallgrass Prairie Habitat=

=Invasive Species found on Site=

| style="width:50%; vertical-align:top;"|

=Native trees of the Woodland Habitat=

=Native Plants of the Woodland Habitat=

|}

Visitor’s Center

File:Visitor center interior.jpg

The visitor’s facilities at Douglas-Hart Nature Center features interactive displays of local wild life, live reptiles and amphibians, a bird observation area, children's discovery den, library, classrooms and a gift shop. Programs are offered for families, children, school groups, scout groups and more.

Hiking & Outdoor Recreation

Douglas-Hart Nature Center offers two miles of easily accessible, [https://web.archive.org/web/20130829100519/http://www.dhnature.org/images/pdf/trailmap.pdf mapped trails] to those interested in viewing the conservation site’s habitats. There are five different trails on the property that tender distinct wildlife and biotope observations. There is also a picnic area.

Publications

Douglas-Hart Nature Center produces its own quarterly news-letter titled, NutHatch News. The goal of the conservancy’s publication is "to bring useful information to the community about DHNC, its programs, services, and staff, as well as helpful and interesting articles about nature and the environment".{{cite web |author=Ryan Condron|url=http://www.dhnature.org/|title=Douglas-Hart Nature Center|year=2010|access-date=19 September 2011|work=Douglas-Hart Nature Center Home Page}}

References

{{Reflist}}

=Works cited=

  • "Illinois Forest Facts." Illinois Forestry. University of Illinois Extension Office, n.d. Web. 19 Sep 2011. .
  • Wang, Jing-Shu, Saeed A. Khan, and Jeffrey O. Dawson. "NITROGEN FIXING TREES INFLUENCE CONCENTRATIONS OF AMMONIUM." AFTA 2005 Conference Proceedings. (2005): 1-17. Web. 19 Sep. 2011. .

External links

  • [http://www.dhnature.org Douglas-Hart Nature Center] - official site

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Category:Nature reserves in Illinois

Category:Nature centers in Illinois

Category:Protected areas of Coles County, Illinois

Category:Education in Coles County, Illinois

Category:1960s establishments in Illinois

Category:Protected areas established in the 1960s