SR0632enr 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

10300SR0632 Enrolled LRB103 31419 MST 59100 r

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 632

WHEREAS, Article 11 SECTION 1 of the Illinois State Constitution states that it is the public policy of the State and the duty of each person is to provide and maintain a healthful environment for the benefit of this and future generations; and

WHEREAS, SECTION 2 states each person has the right to a healthful environment and that each person may enforce this right against any party, governmental or private, through appropriate legal proceedings subject to reasonable limitation and regulation as the General Assembly may provide by the law; and

WHEREAS, The General Assembly is charged by law with providing for the implementation and enforcement of this public policy; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois 30 by 30 Task Force discussed the application of the 30 by 30 concept in Illinois and considered how agriculture is a predominate land use in the state (75% of the State's land area); and

WHEREAS, The Task Force determined that part of a successful strategy would include dedication through fee simple and easement acquisition, as well as voluntary conservation practices; and

WHEREAS, Currently, 4.2% of the total land area in Illinois is formally protected for conservation purposes through public and private mechanisms; and

WHEREAS, Over the past 10 years, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources has acquired approximately 20,000 acres in fee simple acquisitions; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Nature Preserves Commission has two programs that offer the highest level of legal protection for natural lands in Illinois, the Dedicated Nature Preserve and the Registered Land and Water Reserve; and

WHEREAS, The Conservation and Fall Covers for Spring Savings are two programs that support conservation practices on agricultural land; and

WHEREAS, More than 1.5 million acres are currently under contract for three programs in Illinois through the Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Conservation Stewardship Program, and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program; and

WHEREAS, The health of Illinois' ecosystems is threatened by a number of issues, including habitat degradation and loss, hydrological modifications, spread of exotic species, and economic constraints; and

WHEREAS, Over 90% of land in Illinois is privately owned, making conservation partnerships in Illinois an imperative; roughly 87,000 acres of natural lands, both private and public, are preserved in the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission's Nature Preserve and Land and Water Reserve land protection programs; and

WHEREAS, Information collected from the measuring of conserved lands would help the State to determine the adequate amount of land that should be conserved, to define the overall percentages and the breakdown by geographical area, and to focus the discussion of access to conserved lands; and

WHEREAS, The amount of work needed for a successful outcome would best be accomplished by collaboration with all coordinating State agencies; and

WHEREAS, In addition, conservation capacity can be built by increasing conservation agency staffing; and

WHEREAS, The participation of students on this project is important for the coordination between public and conservation efforts; and

WHEREAS, Aligning programs with local priorities and values provides feedback and actively engages local communities in preparation for new programs and open space; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the creation of a coordinating council under the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Department of Agriculture; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the coordinating council should meet at a minimum of two times to bring together a relevant staff of agencies, students of Pontiac Township High School, and non-governmental organizations, including the largest statewide association representing agriculture, to develop a strategy for implementation of 30 by 30 Task Force recommendations; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Illinois Department of Agriculture, and Pontiac Township High School.