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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Article 11 SECTION 1 of the Illinois State
3Constitution states that it is the public policy of the State
4and the duty of each person to provide and maintain a healthful
5environment for the benefit of this and future generations;
6and
 
7    WHEREAS, SECTION 2 states that each person has the right
8to a healthful environment and that each person may enforce
9this right against any party, governmental or private, through
10appropriate legal proceedings subject to reasonable limitation
11and regulation as the General Assembly may provide by the law;
12and
 
13    WHEREAS, The General Assembly is charged by law with
14providing for the implementation and enforcement of this
15public policy; and
 
16    WHEREAS, The Illinois 30 by 30 Task Force discussed the
17application of the 30 by 30 concept in Illinois and considered
18how agriculture is a predominate land use in the state (75% of
19the State's land area); and
 
20    WHEREAS, The Task Force determined that part of a
21successful strategy would include permanent dedication through

 

 

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1fee simple and easement acquisition, as well as voluntary
2conservation practices; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Currently, 4.2% of the total land area in
4Illinois is formally protected for conservation purposes
5through public and private mechanisms; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Over the past 10 years, the Illinois Department
7of Natural Resources has acquired approximately 20,000 acres
8in fee simple acquisitions; and
 
9    WHEREAS, The Forestry Development Act provides a reduced
10property tax rate to private forest owners that enter into
11agreements to manage their timber through timber stand
12improvement, to control exotic species, or for wildlife
13habitat development; and
 
14    WHEREAS, The Illinois Nature Preserves Commission has two
15programs that offer the highest level of legal protection for
16natural lands in Illinois, the Dedicated Nature Preserve and
17the Registered Land and Water Reserve; and
 
18    WHEREAS, The Conservation and Fall Covers for Spring
19Savings are two programs that support conservation practices
20on agricultural land; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, More than 1.5 million acres are currently under
2contract for three programs in Illinois, which include the
3U.S. Department of Agriculture, such as the Environmental
4Quality Incentives Program, the Conservation Stewardship
5Program, and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program;
6and
 
7    WHEREAS, Measuring of conserved lands would help the State
8to know the adequate amount of land conserved, their overall
9percentages, the breakdown of geographical area, and the
10discussion of access to conserved lands; and
 
11    WHEREAS, The amount of work needed for a successful
12outcome would best be accomplished by collaboration with all
13coordinating State agencies; and
 
14    WHEREAS, In addition, conservation capacity can be built
15by increasing conservation agency staffing; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Aligning programs with local priorities and
17values provides feedback and actively engages local
18communities in preparation for new programs and open spaces,
19and the participation of students on this project is important
20for the coordination between public and conservation efforts;
21therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
2ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the creation of
3a coordinating council under the Illinois Lieutenant
4Governor's office to bring together a relevant staff of
5agencies and non-governmental organizations to develop a
6strategy for implementation of the 30 by 30 concept; and be it
7further
 
8    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
9presented to the students of Pontiac Township High School.