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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING THE DEDICATION OF AN ADDITION TO THORNTON-LANSING ROAD NATURE PRESERVE
WHEREAS, on January 29, 2019, at the 231st meeting of the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, a 100-acre addition to Thornton-Lansing Road Nature Preserve was approved for designation 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, Thornton-Lansing Road Nature Preserve is located in the Village of Thornton in southeast Cook County; and
WHEREAS, this addition expands the footprint of the Thornton-Lansing Road Nature Preserve from 340 to 440 acres; and
WHEREAS, the site consists of a mosaic of high-quality natural communities such as sand forest, sand flatwoods, sand savanna, sand prairie, sedge meadow, and marsh, and contains many conservative species, including 4 species listed as threatened or endangered in Illinois; and
WHEREAS, authority to submit this addition for registration was granted by the Board of Commissioners on October 16, 2018 pursuant to Section 9 of the Cook County Forest Preserve District Act (70 ILCS 810/9); and
WHEREAS, the Forest Preserves of Cook County currently owns and manages 24 dedicated Illinois Nature Preserves and 4 Land and Water Reserves totaling approximately 8,400 acres; and
WHEREAS, dedication of this addition advances the goal set forward in the Next Century Conservation Plan to dedicate 20,000 acres as Illinois Nature Preserve protected land by 2025, and is consistent with the recommendations of the Natural and Cultural Resources Master Plan;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Forest Preserves of Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby acknowledge this momentous dedication and the Forest Preserves' steadfast commitment to protect and restore our region's significant natural resources.
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