Advisory Board Honors Janura

Art Janura of Inverness recently celebrated 30 years serving on the Natural Resources Advisory Board with recognition from Advisory Board Chairman Mike Kepple and Dept. of Natural Resources director Brent Manning. Janura has served on the board during the tenure of four different governors of Illinois. He is the former general Superintendent of the Cook County Forest Preserve District.

Before his retirement in 1991, Janura had served for 27 years as general superintendent of the Cook County Forest Preserve District after starting with the districts as senior forester in 1945.

Janura, who serves as a member of the district's President's Citizens Advisory Committee, was honored by Cook County officials in June when the Poplar Creek Preserve near Hoffman Estates was renamed the Arthur L Janura Preserve.

The Natural Resources Advisory Board advises the DNR about policies and programs and presides over Department grant hearings. Board members, all whom are appointed by the governor, serve six-year terms.

Wildlife Could Benefit from Oil Revenues

Department of Natural Resources Director Brent Manning is applauding the introduction of legislation in Congress that could bring millions of dollars to Illinois for Lake Michigan shoreline protection, local park grants and wildlife conservation programs.

"This is an exciting time for conservation," Manning said. Members of Congress have heard us, and we may finally see a permanent, ample source of finding to be shared with the state for these important pro-grams. The proposals-the Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 1998 in the U.S. House of Representatives, H.R. 4717, and in the Senate, the Reinvestment and Environmental Restoration Act of 1998, S. 256-were introduced in Congress last month. Both would dedicate a percentage of federal offshore oil and gas revenues for three purposes: coastal impact assistance, land-based recreation, and wildlife conservation and education. The finds currently go into the federal treasury.

The proposals could mean as much as $34 million to Illinois programs, Manning said: $12 million for much-needed shoreline protection projects, $9 million for state and local park acquisition and development, and as much as $13 million for wildlife conservation and education.

In recent years, many of the nation's leading conservation organizations spearheaded an initiative called Teaming with Wildlife in an effort to find important wildlife conservation, recreation and education programs through a modest surcharge on outdoor equipment such as camping gear and binoculars. More than 3,000 conservation organizations and related businesses nationwide supported this grassroots effort. While these two new proposals have a different revenue source than originally proposed by the Teaming with wildlife coalition, the finding will be used for the same purposes.

"We have a unique opportunity here," Manning said. "The bill is expected to be reintroduced in the next Congress, and while it likely will undergo revisions, the sponsors understand and support our goal of permanent finding for these critical programs." Manning urged conservation organizations to seek support of these proposals from their congressional representatives.