EcoMyths: Restoring Nature In Abandoned Industrial Areas

Calument
David Wilson / Flickr
Calument
David Wilson / Flickr

EcoMyths: Restoring Nature In Abandoned Industrial Areas

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At one time, Chicago was one of the world’s leaders in iron and steel production. With the decline of the steel mills in the 1970s, many of Chicago’s mills shut down and were eventually abandoned. 

This area includes the Calumet region. Now years later, several agencies including: the City of Chicago; Cook County Forest Preserve district; the US Army Corps of Engineers; and the Chicago Park District, are restoring wetlands and green spaces in the Calumet region. 

For our regular EcoMyths segment, Kate Sackman of EcoMyths Alliance is joined by Lauren Umek, a Northwestern PhD candidate and project manager for the Chicago Park District’s Calumet region. They tell us why they believe that with time and effort, nature can be restored in these areas.