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

[Rick Huffman]

IDNR Natural Heritage & Ill. Nature Preserves CommissiLet me guess, you have
a republican Governor. The same is being done to our SC Department of
Natural Resources and our Conservation Land Bank. The right wing views
nature and natural things as obstacles standing in the way of progress.
Folks that care for such things are tree hugging liberals without morality
and regard for the human condition. The reality is our natural resources are
being exploited to fuel the big corps taking our jobs away and to try and
lessen our trade deficit. I hear your plea for help and it ringing all
across our country. The republicans and democrats do not view the
environment as an issue, but for those like us it is THE issue. Once we lose
here, we have lost our heritage our soul, and we leave a legacy for our
children that we sold it for temporary gain. We will help were we can.
Sincerely Rick Huffman, Founder South Carolina Native Plant Society
  -----Original Message-----
  From: native-plants-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org
[mailto:native-plants-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org]On Behalf Of Jason
Koontz
  Sent: Monday, February 23, 2004 2:11 PM
  To: Native Plant ListServ
  Subject: [PCA] IDNR Natural Heritage & Ill. Nature Preserves Commission
Threatened


  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/senate/

    find legislator by address:
    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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