The Bell Bowl Prairie in Rockford, Illinois. Destruction of an Ecosystem and a Social Identity Motivated by Economics

Seminar paper from the year 2023 in the subject Geography / Earth Science - Demographics, Urban Management, Planning, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, language: English, abstract: This paper looks at prairies in the state of Illinois and at their fate facing continuous pressure of developmental projects. Specifically, it analyzes the case of the Bell Bowl Prairie near the City of Rockford, Illinois: The Greater Rockford Airport Authority published plans to expand the cargo area of their Chicago-Rockford International Airport, enabling it to grow substantially. Parts of the area are already on the grounds of Bell Bowl, however, the infrastructural plans aim for a larger natural area coverage - which means destruction of a defining landscape type in the Midwest. In the paper, the reader gets an introduction into the physical geography of prairies, which includes the definition of the term. Further, the case is presented in necessary detail, illuminating social, environmental and legal aspects. This includes the connection between citizens and this natural habitat, protection of endangered animal and plant species as well as the conflict between courts, activists and different authorities. For clarification and temporal orientation, a chapter deals with the current status as well as a view into the near future.