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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING THE DEDICATION OF AN ADDITION TO BUSSE FOREST NATURE PRESERVE
WHEREAS, on May 13, 2025, at the 250th meeting of the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, a 767-acre expansion of Busse Forest Nature Preserve was approved for dedication and registration as an Illinois Nature Preserve; and
WHEREAS, dedication of a site as a nature preserve provides the highest level of protection for land in Illinois, and is granted only to natural areas of exceptional ecological or cultural significance; and
WHEREAS, this dedication and registration expands the boundaries of the existing 446-acre Busse Forest Nature Preserve by 493 acres, and adds 274 acres of adjacent buffer to the site located in Elk Grove Village in northwest Cook County; and
WHEREAS, Busse Forest Nature Preserve was first dedicated in 1965 as Illinois' third nature preserve, and with these additions is now recognized as the 7th largest nature preserve in the state; and
WHEREAS, the site consists of high-quality remnant mesic upland forest, dry-mesic woodland, northern flatwoods, and freshwater marsh. Subtle changes in topography foster an intermingling of these natural communities which support immense biological diversity, including over two hundred seventy-five (275) species of native plants; and
WHEREAS, authority to submit this addition for registration was granted by the Board of Commissioners on April 16, 2024 per Board Item No. 24-0169 pursuant to Section 9 of the Cook County Forest Preserve District Act (70 ILCS 810/9); and
WHEREAS, with this addition the Forest Preserves of Cook County currently owns and manages twenty-seven (27) dedicated Illinois Nature Preserves and six (6) Land and Water Reserves totaling approximately 11,735 acres; and
WHEREAS, expansion of Busse Forest Nature Preserve advances the goal set forth in the Next Century Conservation Plan to dedicate and register 20,000 acres of eligible lands for Illinois Nature Preserve protection...
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