INPS, Secratary
Lailah Reich is an ecologist with over 18 years’ experience conducting wetland delineations and developing mitigation and restoration design related to transportation, utility, commercial, and industrial development projects. She has also performed research and surveys for rare, state and federally-listed flora for over 22 years. Ms. Reich has also been involved with large-scale restoration projects at Illinois Nature Preserves and Natural Areas Inventory (INAI) sites where specific habitats for protected species are present. She has designed and conducted floristic monitoring for various wetland mitigation banks within the Midwest. In addition, she assisted with plant conservation research in the Chicago region through the Plants of Concern Program in 2003 and 2004 and conducted research through Baylor University’s REU program on a rare species endemic to Texas, Dalea reverchonii. Ms. Reich has also conducted over 1,000 wetland delineations within the Midwest Region, which requires floristic analyses.
Lailah is passionate about the preservation and protection of rare, endemic plant species in Illinois and has dedicated much of her life to gaining knowledge to aid in this pursuit. She dedicated to helping to preserve flora diversity and associated habitats for these species, and has been a member of the Illinois Native Plant Society for 10+ years.
Education
M.A. 2008 – Candidacy Geography and Environmental Studies, Northeastern Illinois University.
B.S. 2002 – Biological Sciences, Illinois State University.
