Bill > SR0172

This resolution designates April 2025 as Prescribed Burning Awareness Month in Illinois, highlighting the significant ecological, economic, and cultural importance of prescribed fire as a land management technique. The resolution explains that prescribed fire is a traditional practice historically used by Indigenous peoples to manage landscapes, attract game, and improve land traversability. It emphasizes that prescribed burning is a critical tool for preventing wildfires, controlling invasive species, maintaining healthy ecosystems, and managing wildlife habitats, while noting that currently only about 6% of conservation lands in Illinois are managed using this method. The resolution references the Illinois Prescribed Fire Council and the state's 2007 Prescribed Burning Act, which defines prescribed fire as a planned, controlled application of fire to vegetation under specific environmental conditions. By supporting the appropriate and continued use of prescribed fire, the resolution aims to promote awareness of this land management practice and its benefits for maintaining grasslands, forests, air and water quality, and local economies, ultimately presenting a copy of the resolution to the Illinois Prescribed Fire Council as a symbol of respect.

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=172&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SR&SessionID=114&GA=104