[PCA] IDNR Natural Heritage & Ill. Nature Preserves Commission Threatened

[Jason Koontz]

Hello all,

I'm forwarding a letter from the President of the IL Native Plant 
Society concerning a troubling budget proposal from the Governor of 
Illinois.  I know this is not uncommon, but the folks in Illinois 
could use any and all support.

Jason




>
>Dear colleagues and fellow conservationists,
>
>     As many of you may have already heard, Governor Rod Blagojevich 
>has proposed in next year's state budget to divert revenue from the 
>Real Estate Transfer Tax, directed by statute to fund the Natural 
>Areas Acquisition Fund (NAAF) and the Open Space Lands Acquisition 
>and Development Fund (OSLAD), to the General Revenue Fund.  He has 
>also proposed to eliminate nearly 200 positions within the Illinois 
>Department of Natural Resources.  As a result, ALL OF THE NATURAL 
>HERITAGE AND NATURE PRESERVES COMMISSION POSITIONS WILL BE 
>ELIMINATED, PERMANENTLY!
>
>     The ramifications to Illinois' significant natural resources 
>will be profound, widespread, and long lasting.  Decades of vigilant 
>efforts to protect, safeguard, and manage our natural areas and 
>endangered species will be in jeopardy.  Illinois, long a model for 
>the national and international conservation communities, will no 
>longer be a leader in the conservation movement.  Illinois citizens, 
>who repeatedly identify the protection of Illinois open space, 
>wildlife, and natural areas as a very high priority and key 
>component of their quality of life, will also be negatively 
>affected.   The care and management of our State Parks, identified 
>as a priority by Governor Blagojevich in his budget address, will 
>actually be weakened by these cuts.  And the loss of these programs 
>and their associated funds will also result in the loss of millions 
>of additional conservation dollars that are brought into Illinois by 
>Natural Heritage and Nature Preserves Commission staff through 
>various grants.
>
>     The proposed cuts at issue go beyond the loss of the NAAF and 
>OSLAD funding alone.  Even if funding for these important programs 
>is maintained, NATURAL HERITAGE AND ILLINOIS NATURE PRESERVES 
>COMMISSION STAFF POSITIONS are still proposed to be ELIMINATED. 
>Also at stake are other Office of Resource Conservation positions 
>such as our Foresters, Fisheries, and Wildlife Biologists.  We will 
>be losing FRONT-LINE biologists - public service providers  - not 
>middle managers as stated in the budget address.  We will need all 
>constituents for all conservation interests across Illinois to speak 
>with a unified voice to OPPOSE THESE CUTS, as the protection and 
>management of our state's natural resources is at stake.
>
>     Please, pass the word and TELL YOUR LEGISLATORS that Illinois 
>can't afford to sacrifice the funding or the staff that protects and 
>manages our remaining natural areas and imperiled species.  We will 
>need to be more vocal than ever before if we want to have our voices 
>heard over the din of opposition to other parts of the proposed 
>budget.  A fact sheet detailing ramifications to our natural 
>heritage from the proposed budget was developed by The Nature 
>Conservancy, and is attached for your information.  Contact 
>information for your legislator can be found at the addresses below:
>
><http://www.legis.state.il.us/house/>http://www.legis.state.il.us/house/
>
><http://www.legis.state.il.us/senate/>http://www.legis.state.il.us/senate/
>
>find legislator by address:
><http://www.elections.state.il.us/dls/pages/DLSAddresscrit.asp>http://www.elections.state.il.us/dls/pages/DLSAddresscrit.asp
>
>
>     Two years ago, the Illinois conservation community successfully 
>stood up and voiced its opposition to significant cuts by the Ryan 
>Administration to the Natural Areas Acquisition Fund, and the cuts 
>were subsequently repealed by the state legislature.  The 
>conservation crisis today is unparalleled.  Our efforts must be 
>equal to the challenge.  Thank you.
>
>
>Sincerely,
>Todd Bittner
>
>"In the end, our society will be defined not only by what we create, 
>but by what we refuse to destroy."   - John Sawhill
>
>
>
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