SR0529 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0529 LRB104 16640 LAW 30043 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to congratulate Citizens for Conservation (CFC) on the occasion of its 55th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, CFC, founded in Barrington in 1971, is a volunteer-powered nonprofit dedicated to the motto, "Saving Living Space for Living Things"; for over a half century, the nonprofit has transformed the Barrington area into a beacon of community-driven conservation through protecting vital open space, restoring native ecosystems, and inspiring people of all ages to care for the land; and

WHEREAS, From its earliest days as a small grassroots group, CFC has embraced a bold vision that ordinary community members, working together, could revive nearly vanished prairies, savannas, wetlands, and woodlands in the region; in the mid-1980s, when restoration ecology was still emerging, the organization began pioneering ambitious restoration techniques, setting new standards for ecological integrity; by seeking rare remnant seed sources and cultivating local-ecotype diversity, the nonprofit created extraordinary restorations, including Grigsby Prairie and Flint Creek Savanna, that today stand among the most ecologically rich and admired in the region; and

WHEREAS, CFC has helped spark collaborative restoration across Cook, Lake, and McHenry counties as a founding member of the multi-county Barrington Greenways Initiative; for decades, the organization has generously shared hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of native seed that is collected from its preserves with partner groups, enabling dramatic habitat improvements, such as restoring large portions of the Spring Creek Forest Preserve, that now in turn supports the nonprofit's expanding preserve system and includes the 232-acre Hill 'N Dale Preserve; and

WHEREAS, Over its 55-year history, CFC has more than doubled the land it has protected, stewarding 732 acres of prairie, wetland, and woodland habitats, collected nearly 10,000 pounds of native seed over years, representing an astonishing $2.5 million in ecological value, reintroduced more than 300 native plant species, which have in turn helped restore local landscapes both on CFC sites and county forest preserves, placed over 500,000 natives plants into community hands, and continued to inspire future conservation leaders through offering public bird walks, ongoing education programs, and a summer internship program; and

WHEREAS, CFC's impact has been made possible by the organization's unwavering belief in the power of people; its volunteer-led model allows for meticulous, long-term stewardship that follows nature's pace rather than short-term funding cycles; week after week, the nonprofit's volunteers, staff, and partners work side by side, restoring land, learning together, and cultivating the next generation of conservationists; and

WHEREAS, Today, CFC stands as a model, showing that a dedicated community can achieve vibrant native habitats, flourishing biodiversity, and land renewed through shared purpose and perseverance; through land protection, ecological restoration, and education, the organization continues to build a healthier, more resilient landscape, ensuring that living space for living things endures for generations to come; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Citizens for Conservation (CFC) on achieving its 55th anniversary, and we wish the nonprofit continued success in its endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to CFC as an expression of our esteem and respect.