HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRO-2024-021-Proclamation Recognizing 25 Years of Orange County Conservation Initiatives Great Trails State Day ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROCLAMATION
Recognition of 25 Years of Conservation Initiatives by County
Government / Great Trails State Day 2024
WHEREAS , the year 2024 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the approval and
formation of conservation initiatives including the creation of the County ' s Environment
and Resource Conservation Department ( now the Department of Environment ,
Agriculture , Parks , and Recreation ) , and creation of a program for conservation and
protection of the County ' s most important natural and cultural resource lands (which
became the Lands Legacy Program ) ; and
WHEREAS , the new department was tasked with the purposes of 1 ) Overseeing ,
implementing , and coordinating County goals for environmental protection and resource
conservation ; 2 ) Developing and implementing a program for the acquisition and
management of land for resource conservation ; 3 ) Integrating current and future natural
and cultural resource data into a Comprehensive Resource Database ; 4 ) Providing staff
support to Commissions and Boards ; and 5 ) Working collaboratively with other
departments and agencies on resource conservation ; and
WHEREAS , the department was staffed with existing and new positions with expertise in
environmental planning , landscape architecture and park design , land conservation ,
water resource conservation , and cultural resource conservation ( historic and agricultural
preservation ) ; and
WHEREAS , the subsequent development of the Lands Legacy Program was created and
approved as a comprehensive initiative in April 2000 , implementing the goal of a program
working with willing landowners for the conservation , acquisition and management of
important lands for natural and cultural resources ; and
WHEREAS , the Lands Legacy Program has since been successful in the conservation
of approximately 1 , 114 acres for eight current or future parks , and holds conservation
easements on approximately 2 , 973 acres , with over 2 , 300 of these acres protecting active
farms ; and
WHEREAS , in these 25 years , the Lands Legacy Program has received over $ 6 . 1 million
dollars in federal and state match grant funds aiding in the acquisition of the above ,
working with a variety of conservation partners and willing landowners ; and
WHEREAS , the State of North Carolina will celebrate Great Trails State Day on October
19 , 2024 , with Orange County as a signatory partner in this initiative that ties closely to
the County ' s conservation initiatives ; and
WHEREAS , the County plans to celebrate the 25t" anniversary of these initiatives in
conjunction with Great Trails State Day on October 19 , 2024 at Blackwood Farm Park ;
NOW, THEREFORE , BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of
Commissioners commends the celebration of 25 years of conservation initiatives , and
declares October 19 , 2024 to be Great Trails State Day in Orange County.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board recognizes the foresight and action of the
1999 Orange County Board of Commissioners and those involved in the creation of these
efforts 25 years ago to help protect our most important natural and cultural resource lands ,
which continue to bear fruit to this day.
This the 15t " Day of October, 2024 .
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mezett Bedford , C it
Orange County Board of Commissioners
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PLaura Jens , Clerk to the Board
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