HR0862 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0862 LRB101 21621 LAW 72553 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Illinois Constitution declares that it is the public policy of the State "to provide and maintain a healthful environment for the benefit of this and future generations"; and

WHEREAS, Illinois has historically demonstrated leadership and resolve to protect, conserve, and restore the natural environment, including through a network of protected areas; and

WHEREAS, There are over 130 state parks and multiple conservation programs in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, According to an estimate by the United States Department of Agriculture, there were approximately five million acres of forested land in Illinois in 2018, containing over two billion trees; that is an increase of over 100,000 acres of wooded land since 2013; of those five million acres, over 83% of them were owned by private land-owners; and

WHEREAS, The United States ranks among the top five countries in the world for the amount of wilderness-quality land and ocean it has remaining; and

WHEREAS, The United States Geological Survey classifies over seven-hundred million acres of land, or 30% of the U.S. landmass, as protected; that network of protected areas is preserved and supported by a variety of conservation laws; and

WHEREAS, The United States has the conservation experience and traditions necessary to make great strides in the preservation of natural areas for future generations; and

WHEREAS, The United States announced that it would join the Trillion Trees Initiative, a global campaign to plant at least one trillion new trees; and

WHEREAS, The U.S. Senate is considering a resolution calling for the establishment of a national goal of conserving at least 30% of U.S. lands and oceans by 2030; and

WHEREAS, Congressional leaders of both major parties have implemented legislation to protect the United States' rich natural heritage; and

WHEREAS, Despite these accomplishments, there are over 1,300 threatened or endangered species in the United States according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency; a study published in the journal Science found that the bird populations in the United States and Canada have declined by three billion since 1970; and

WHEREAS, Young people are taking the lead in the effort to conserve Illinois' environmental resources; the students of Pontiac Township High School raised $100,000 and launched Operation Endangered Species to restore endangered species to their historical habitats; and

WHEREAS, Through the Operation Endangered Species program, these students have performed research, secured habitat, informed citizens, and empowered youth to take action; and

WHEREAS, Operation Endangered Species fostered cooperation between the students of Pontiac Township High School and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, resulting in the reintroduction of the Alligator Snapping Turtle back into its natural habitat; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the State should redouble its efforts to work with the federal government, local governments, the private sector, civil society, schools, students, farmers, ranchers, fishing communities, and sportsmen to conserve the land, rivers, and lakes of Illinois for present and future generations to enjoy, taking into account a wide range of flexible and enduring conservation solutions that will improve access to nature for all people within Illinois, especially for communities that have historically lacked access to natural spaces; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the State should pursue this goal in a way that protects private property rights and traditional land uses and enables landowners to pass down the working land of those landowners to the next generation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be delivered to the students of Pontiac Township High School, Lemont High School, and Whitney M. Young Magnet High School.