CARBONDALE - A Carbondale woman has launched a campaign to build a botanical garden in Southern Illinois aimed at preserving the region's biodiversity and creating an economic engine for the area.

Miriam Kritzer Van Zant, who has a master's degree in plant biology, said the southern counties of Illinois represent the widest variety of floral life in the central United States. This area was left uncovered during the last ice age, which ended about 10,000 years ago.

Van Zant first had the idea of creating a regional botanical garden when she observed the plant life and greenhouses around Hickory Lodge, a Carbondale Park District facility. Her first thought was to use that site for the project, but she's since realized it would not be possible.

"I started to think I should at least do what I can to get the ball rolling in that direction," she said. "I see this garden as the brains of a larger garden called Southern Illinois."

She has been working with Shawnee Resource Conservation and Development Area, Inc., on financial issues and earning 501(c)3 not-for-profit status. There are many opportunities for federal funding that would be "a good fit" for the project, but many of them require community matching funds, she added.

A fundraiser earlier this year raised the first funds for the project, but more support is needed - both in terms of contributions and help sponsoring fundraisers, Van Zant said.

"We've barely put a drop in the bucket of what's needed to take any next step," she said. Once completed, the botanical garden can generate revenue through attracting tourists to the region, she added. Through it all, the community will play an important role.

"Keeping it a community organization is also imperative because the best way to protect native ecosystems is to make this a community project and make sure the community feels involved and stays involved," Van Zant said.

adam.testa@thesouthern.com / 351-5031

For more information, contact Miriam Kritzer Van Zant at ccbgsi@gmail.com or Brenda Little of the Shawnee Conservation Resource and Development Agency at 993-5396 ext. 6 or brenda.little@rcdnet.net.