The effects of deforestation around my home and throughout my state are becoming more evident every day. When deer or other game loses its home, it moves into cities, urban areas, and parks; thus causing problems for the human population. Most people who live in Illinois have hit or nearly killed a deer while driving on southern Illinois roads. This common occurrence could be kept at bay or perhaps even avoided if deer and game animals had more space to reside. There are many points that coincide with this reality but the main issues are the small and subtle ones that concern everyday life and which are often overlooked. Imagine the Illinois we will leave to our children. Do you see a lush green forest or miles and miles of concrete and steel?. When people see new construction or a recently paved road, they often don't realize the sacrifice that was made to create these luxuries. Most people pass by some type of construction every day on their way to work or school. This simple fact raises questions about what this area was like before it was inhabited by humans. Illinois' forests underwent drastic changes in the decades following European settlement. Today there is only 31% of the forest area that existed in 1820. (Iverson Pdf) Cutting down trees to build new structures is not bad if done in moderation, in a sense with time and good planning it is wonderful. However, anyone who hunts or claims to be an outdoorsman will identify with the incomparable sensation felt when alone in the woods and away from the chaos of the urbanized world. A consideration must be made about hunting and the outdoors in Illinois, which is a common interest throughout Illinois. While it may not be of interest to everyone, sustenance and a portion of income are g… middle of paper… we have solutions; however, only careful monitoring and conservation of forests can help in the long term. Planting trees in backyards or getting a group together to start an urban forest would be a great idea to help the cause. Common sense and a little hard work can help restore forests to their original state and avoid problems across Illinois that impact society as a whole. Work Cited Iverson, L, R, Forest resources of Illinois: what do we have and what are they doing for us? Symposium proceedings: our living heritage. Champagne. IL: Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin 34; 1991: 361-374,Www.fs.fed.us/ne/newtown_square/.../other.../ne_1991_iverson001.pdf. Web “Introduction to Creating Habitats and Homes for Illinois Wildlife.” DNR. Network. 14 September. 2011. .