Full Text of SR0632 103rd General Assembly
SR0632 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, Article 11 SECTION 1 of the Illinois State | 3 | | Constitution states that it is the public policy of the State | 4 | | and the duty of each person to provide and maintain a healthful | 5 | | environment for the benefit of this and future generations; | 6 | | and
| 7 | | WHEREAS, SECTION 2 states that each person has the right | 8 | | to a healthful environment and that each person may enforce | 9 | | this right against any party, governmental or private, through | 10 | | appropriate legal proceedings subject to reasonable limitation | 11 | | and regulation as the General Assembly may provide by the law; | 12 | | and
| 13 | | WHEREAS, The General Assembly is charged by law with | 14 | | providing for the implementation and enforcement of this | 15 | | public policy; and
| 16 | | WHEREAS, The Illinois 30 by 30 Task Force discussed the | 17 | | application of the 30 by 30 concept in Illinois and considered | 18 | | how agriculture is a predominate land use in the state (75% of | 19 | | the State's land area); and | 20 | | WHEREAS, The Task Force determined that part of a | 21 | | successful strategy would include permanent dedication through |
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| 1 | | fee simple and easement acquisition, as well as voluntary | 2 | | conservation practices; and | 3 | | WHEREAS, Currently, 4.2% of the total land area in | 4 | | Illinois is formally protected for conservation purposes | 5 | | through public and private mechanisms; and | 6 | | WHEREAS, Over the past 10 years, the Illinois Department | 7 | | of Natural Resources has acquired approximately 20,000 acres | 8 | | in fee simple acquisitions; and | 9 | | WHEREAS, The Forestry Development Act provides a reduced | 10 | | property tax rate to private forest owners that enter into | 11 | | agreements to manage their timber through timber stand | 12 | | improvement, to control exotic species, or for wildlife | 13 | | habitat development; and | 14 | | WHEREAS, The Illinois Nature Preserves Commission has two | 15 | | programs that offer the highest level of legal protection for | 16 | | natural lands in Illinois, the Dedicated Nature Preserve and | 17 | | the Registered Land and Water Reserve; and | 18 | | WHEREAS, The Conservation and Fall Covers for Spring | 19 | | Savings are two programs that support conservation practices | 20 | | on agricultural land; and |
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| 1 | | WHEREAS, More than 1.5 million acres are currently under | 2 | | contract for three programs in Illinois, which include the | 3 | | U.S. Department of Agriculture, such as the Environmental | 4 | | Quality Incentives Program, the Conservation Stewardship | 5 | | Program, and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program; | 6 | | and | 7 | | WHEREAS, Measuring of conserved lands would help the State | 8 | | to know the adequate amount of land conserved, their overall | 9 | | percentages, the breakdown of geographical area, and the | 10 | | discussion of access to conserved lands; and | 11 | | WHEREAS, The amount of work needed for a successful | 12 | | outcome would best be accomplished by collaboration with all | 13 | | coordinating State agencies; and | 14 | | WHEREAS, In addition, conservation capacity can be built | 15 | | by increasing conservation agency staffing; and
| 16 | | WHEREAS, Aligning programs with local priorities and | 17 | | values provides feedback and actively engages local | 18 | | communities in preparation for new programs and open spaces, | 19 | | and the participation of students on this project is important | 20 | | for the coordination between public and conservation efforts; | 21 | | therefore, be it
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| 1 | | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL | 2 | | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the creation of | 3 | | a coordinating council under the Illinois Lieutenant | 4 | | Governor's office to bring together a relevant staff of | 5 | | agencies and non-governmental organizations to develop a | 6 | | strategy for implementation of the 30 by 30 concept; and be it | 7 | | further
| 8 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 9 | | presented to the students of Pontiac Township High School.
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