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Fact sheet on DNR programs:WHO?YOU! That's who can help save our state's natural treasures The state's proposed 2005 budget eliminates ALL funding for the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission and the Natural Heritage staff. This leaves our state's most valuable natural areas and wildlife vulnerable and unprotected! Without these programs and staff, Illinois will: Lose protection for 85,000 acres of our most rare natural areasRanging in size from one acre to more than 2,000 acres, nature preserves protect tall grass prairies, oak groves, sandstone bluffs, wetlands, bogs and other threatened natural areas. These lands provide homes for endangered species like the prairie white-fringed orchid, the Prairie Chicken and Illinois Chorus frog. Without nature preserve status and protection, many of these exceptional areas would be lost forever. Background The Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) and Natural Areas Acquisition Fund (NAAF) programs are funded with dedicated dollars from the real estate transfer tax. The bulk of the money is used to buy land for the state and local park districts, and the rest supports highly trained conservation staff who maintain this investment. We know budgets are tight, and everyone must make sacrifices. However, it would devastate Illinois' natural heritage to lose funding for the Nature Preserves Commission ($1.2 million budget last year) and other NAAF programs. Proposed cuts will force the layoff of all15 Nature Preserves staff and 35 professional staff biologists, who work in the field with private and public landowners every day. Here are more facts about Illinois Nature Preserves and their importance to our state: Established 40 years ago by state statute, the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission is responsible for administering three voluntary land preservation programs for both private and public landowners. It protects 85,000 acres of the most rare, high quality natural areas, often without the state having to acquire the land.Please restore the budget to the Natural Areas Acquisition Fund (NAAF) and the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) to: Save the Nature Preserve Commission, which can double the state's return on investment and protect our state's natural legacy Save the remaining remnants of our natural heritage Save these living classrooms and rare research areas Save our wildlife, open space and parks for future generations. Thank you. | |||||||||||||||||||