In July, a team of investigators led by Illinois Natural History Survey botanist, Brian Charles, published their 2023 research reviewing subnational level (or S-rank) rankings of threatened and endangered (T&E) species in Illinois. These rankings had not been reviewed since 1987. 

Illinois Natural History Survey and Plants of Concern staff monitoring at Grant Woods

Their team reviewed data from Biotics, iNaturalist, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, and The Illinois Department of Natural Resources' Natural Heritage Database (which includes data submitted by you!), as well as 7 herbaria across the state to assess the ranks of over 300 T&E plant species, as well as create a brand new Illinois State Watchlist to account for vulnerable species that may merit consideration for future state listing. 

From Left to Right: Grant Fessler, Ken Klick, Brian Charles, Katie Kucera, Paul Marcum

The team found a promising positive trend in species rank across the board. Of the 257 species listed in both the 1987 and 2023 S-rank assessments, 71 species are now considered less imperiled than they were in 1987, with only 3 species now considered more imperiled, thanks to "better population information as a result of more field surveys and attention" (Charles et al., 2025), like the work volunteers do as part of Plants of Concern!

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