HR0902 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0902 LRB104 21588 ECR 37034 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission and Northern Illinois University on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the dedication of Pine Rock Nature Preserve; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act created a system for preserving and protecting areas of the State as a part of the heritage of the people of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Illinois Nature Preserves are of value for scientific research, for teaching, as reservoirs of natural materials with potential uses yet to be discovered, as habitats for rare and vanishing species, as places of historic and natural interest and scenic beauty, and as living museums of the native landscape wherein one may envision and experience primeval conditions in a wilderness-like environment; and

WHEREAS, Illinois Nature Preserves contribute generally to the public health, the welfare, and the environmental quality of the State; and

WHEREAS, Pine Rock Nature Preserve, located in Ogle County, was officially established in 1966 to protect and conserve its dry upland black oak forest and savanna, mesic and wet-mesic prairie, and the St. Peter sandstone geological formation; and

WHEREAS, Pine Rock Nature Preserve provides critical habitat for a diverse array of plant and animal species, including big bluestem grass and various sedges; and

WHEREAS, Pine Rock Nature Preserve offers opportunities for hiking, nature observation, birdwatching, and environmental education, allowing residents and visitors to experience the preserve's diverse natural landscapes of bluff-top forest, savanna, and open prairie; and

WHEREAS, The stewardship of Pine Rock Nature Preserve has been supported by dedicated local partners, community members, and conservation advocates, with additional support from organizations such as the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources; and

WHEREAS, Over the past 60 years, Pine Rock Nature Preserve has contributed to the protection of Illinois' natural heritage and serves as a valuable natural resource for the residents of Ogle County; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission and Northern Illinois University on the 60th anniversary of the dedication of Pine Rock Nature Preserve and commend the organizations' ongoing commitment to conservation, education, and stewardship; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission and Northern Illinois University as a symbol of our respect and esteem.