SOUTHERN ILLINOIS — On December 13th the Carbondale City Council voted to support the proposed Shawnee National Park and Climate Preserve. The resolution also authorizes the Mayor to encourage action by the Governor and US Legislators to change the forests designation to a national park.
The Shawnee, which was subject to a 17 year moratorium on logging in large part due to environmental protests and legal challenges in the 1990s has been increasingly in the headlines again as environmentalists and residents have called for its designation as a climate preserve.
On December 3, 2022, the Illinois Audubon Society board of directors voted unanimously to also support the proposed Shawnee National Forest and Climate Preserve.
This would be the nation’s first climate preserve’” said John Wallace of Shawnee Forest Defense.
Founded in 1897, the Illinois Audubon Society is the oldest non-governmental conservation organization in Illinois.
RELATED LINK- Earth Island Institute Feature on Shawnee Climate Preserve Proposal
The resolution below:
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-R-_____
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE PROPOSED
SHAWNEE NATIONAL PARK AND CLIMATE PRESERVE
WHEREAS, the Shawnee National Forest encompasses a 289,000 acre area in southern
Illinois stretching from the Mississippi River to the Ohio River which contains some of the most
ecologically biodiverse areas in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the Shawnee National Forest contains three designated geological areas,
four National Park Service Natural Area Landmarks, a National Historic Trail, five
Physiographic Natural Divisions that collide, and seven designated Wilderness Areas; and
WHEREAS, the Shawnee National Forest is home to stunning scenery to include vistas
above Little Grand Canyon, Larue Pine Hills, and Garden of the Gods; and
WHEREAS, the Shawnee National Forest has recreational opportunities at Bell Smith
Springs, Lusk Creek Canyon, Hutchins Creek, Burden Falls, and Fountain Bluff, among many
others; and
WHEREAS, the Carbondale City Council is committed to combatting climate change
and adopted a Sustainability Action Plan on April 26, 2022 which included a focus on preserving
tree canopy; and
WHEREAS, preserving the natural resources and mature tree canopy of the Shawnee
forest will help sequester and store carbon which helps mitigate the effects of climate change,
further preserving this natural area; and
WHEREAS, the Shawnee National Forest is currently managed by the United States
Department of Agriculture through the United States Forest Service; and
WHEREAS, the United States Forest Service’ focus is on resource extraction and
sustaining the health, diversity, and productivity of national forests and grasslands to produce
healthy timber, grazing, wildlife, fish and other natural resources for the use of private interests;
and
WHEREAS, in order to change the management focus from resource extraction to
preservation of natural and cultural resources, education, and recreation while also ensuring the sustainability of the Shawnee National Forest a change in designation to a National Park must be approved by Congress; and
WHEREAS, changing the designation of the Shawnee from a National Forest to a
National Park would provide the resources needed to preserve the area but would require that the Shawnee’s management be moved from the Forest Service to the National Park Service; and
WHEREAS, changing the designation from a National Forest to a National Park would
produce economic benefits to the entire southern Illinois region through an increase in tourism,
consumer spending, and job creation; and
WHEREAS, the National Park Service is a division of the Department of the Interior
whose mission is “to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the
National Park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations ,and cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world”; and
WHEREAS, changing the Shawnee Forest’s designation to the Shawnee National Park
and Climate Preserve will best ensure that the human and capital resources are available to
preserve the Shawnee Forest region’s biodiversity, maintain outdoor recreation activities
including hunting, trapping, and fishing, while also remaining sustainable for future generations.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF CARBONDALE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. That the Carbondale City Council authorizes the Mayor of the City of
Carbondale to request that the Illinois congressional delegation initiate the process to transfer
management of the Shawnee Forest from the United States Department of Agriculture Forest
Service to the United States Department of Interior National Park Service.
SECTION 2. That the City Council authorizes the Mayor to request that the Governor of
the State of Illinois and the State of Illinois legislators serving the southern Illinois region join in
supporting the Illinois Congressional delegation to initiate the change in designation from the
Shawnee National Forest to the Shawnee National Park and Climate Preserve.
SECTION 3. That the City Council ask that other cities in the southern Illinois region
join the City of Carbondale in supporting the creation of the Shawnee National Park and Climate
Preserve.
SECTION 4. That this Resolution be spread at length upon the minute records of the
City Council of the City of Carbondale, Illinois.
SECTION 5. That this Resolution shall take effect upon its passage, approval,
recording, and publication in pamphlet form in accordance with law.
This Resolution is adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of
Carbondale, Illinois on the 13th day of December, 2022.
APPROVED: ___________________________________
Carolin Harvey, Mayor Pro-Tempore
ATTEST: _________________________________
Jennifer R. Sorrell, City Clerk