(505 ILCS 75/2) (from Ch. 5, par. 1302)
Sec. 2.
Legislative Findings and Intent.
The natural resources of Illinois
- land, minerals, water, and air - are both finite and fragile. In the
absence of wise use and consistent management practices, these resources
are threatened by irreversible damage or loss. Protection of the State's
natural resources is essential to guard the public health, safety, and welfare,
and to assure an adequate natural resource supply and quality for use and
enjoyment by future generations.
Since World War II, the amount of Illinois land dedicated to agriculture
has steadily declined at an average rate of approximately 100,000 acres
per year. This substantial loss of farmlands is the equivalent of eight
average-sized Illinois counties. If this trend continues, the State will
lose the equivalent of another five or six counties by the end of the century.
The conversion and loss of agricultural land has diminished Illinois' cropland
base and affects environmental quality. The supply of land most suitable
for farming is finite. Conversion of this land to urban development and
other non-farm uses reduces future food production capability and may ultimately
undermine agriculture as a major economic activity in Illinois. With less
prime farmland available there will tend to be greater reliance on marginally
productive land, resulting in greater soil erosion, increased fertilizer
requirements and increased environmental damage. Loss of agricultural land
can also reduce the beneficial role which the land itself can play. Agricultural
land reduces runoff by absorbing precipitation, aids in replenishing groundwater
supplies and can buffer environmentally sensitive areas from encroaching development.
The importance of preserving our agricultural land base has been recognized
by the Illinois Rural Planning Council, the Task Force on the Future of
Illinois, and in the State's "Comprehensive Growth and Resource Conservation
Policies." Each of these efforts recommends that the State minimize the
conversion of prime farmland that results from the direct or indirect effects
of State programs and also encourages the achievement of related goals,
such as reducing the loss of soil through erosion.
(Source: P.A. 82-945.)
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