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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Rapid land development in Illinois has led to the
3loss of forestlands, farmlands, wildlife habitats,
4biodiversity, outstanding natural areas, beaches, and public
5areas for outdoor recreation; this has impacted the health of
6the State's lakes, streams, rivers, and wetlands, all of which
7impacts the quality of life of the State's current and future
8citizens; this land development may jeopardize the well-being
9of the State's environment and economy if not addressed
10appropriately; and
 
11    WHEREAS, This same rapid land development has also led to
12the loss of historical and archaeological sites that embody
13the heritage of the State; and
 
14    WHEREAS, This incredible loss of natural land is occurring
15across the United States and around the world; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Scientists have documented this rapid loss of
17natural area and wildlife, including the loss of 1,500,000
18acres of natural area in the United States per year, the loss
19of 2,900,000,000, or twenty-nine percent, of North American
20birds since 1970, threats to approximately 12,000 plant and
21animal species in the United States, all of which are in need
22of proactive conservation efforts, and the loss of one-half of

 

 

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1freshwater and saltwater wetlands in the contiguous
2forty-eight states; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Scientists have recommended conserving and
4protecting thirty percent of the land and thirty percent of
5the ocean in each country by 2030 in order to address this
6deterioration of natural systems, loss of biodiversity, and
7rapid land development; and
 
8    WHEREAS, In order to support national efforts and provide
9state leadership to address the deterioration of natural
10systems, loss of biodiversity, and rapid land development,
11Illinois must establish a bold goal for the amount of land to
12be protected by the year 2030; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Building upon the legislative work of previous
14students from Pontiac Township High School, Lemont High
15School, and Whitney Young High School, Emilie Collins and
16Keagan Hall of Pontiac Township High School in Pontiac and
17Emilee Bencivenga of the Department of Defense Dependents
18Ramstein American High School in Ramstein-Miesenbach, Germany
19knew something needed to be done and created a piece of
20legislation that amends the Illinois Natural Areas
21Preservation Act and creates the Illinois Thirty-By-Thirty
22Conservation Task Force; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, That task force shall review and make
2recommendations to the General Assembly regarding conservation
3of Illinois land and implementation of strategies to conserve
4and protect 30 percent of land in Illinois by 2030; therefore,
5be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
7HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
8we commend Emilie Collins, Keagan Hall, Emilee Bencivenga, and
9all of the students involved for their work to create
10legislation to conserve the land, rivers, and lakes of
11Illinois for present and future generations to enjoy, taking
12into account a wide range of flexible and enduring
13conservation solutions that will improve access to nature for
14all people within Illinois, especially for communities that
15have historically lacked access to natural spaces; and be it
16further
 
17    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
18presented to Emilie Collins, Keagan Hall, and Emilee
19Bencivenga as an expression of our esteem and respect.