100 delegates provide their voice to first McHenry County Conservation Congress

The McHenry County Conservation District's First Conservation Congress gathered more than 100 delegates from varied organizations and interest groups Feb. 6 at McHenry County College to discuss the fate and future of the county's public lands over the next 50 years.

Four congressional sessions rounded out the day which stirred conversations and provided a formal process to propose and advocate for actions that can be taken by the conservation district to protect and conserve natural resources, provide compatible education, and outdoor recreational opportunities on public lands in McHenry County.

Key presentations were given by Fran P. Mainella, the 16th Director of the National Park Service and Visiting Scholar of Clemson University Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism; Suzanne Malec-McKenna, executive director of Chicago Wilderness; Brook McDonald, president/CEO of Conservation Foundation; and Peter Murphy, president and CEO of the Illinois Association of Park Districts.

At the end of the day delegates participated in a congressional poll and pledged their support by signing the Fundamental Declaration of Conservation Principles. Over the next week District staff will compile all of the conversations held during the congress into one document and then share these conversations. Moving forward, the Conservation District will continue to work with and engage Delegates in preparing action steps the Conservation District can take regarding each of the areas discussed that will help shape the future of McHenry County Public Lands.

"It is important that we continue to be farsighted in our protection of the public lands bequeathed upon us and allow for opportunities for the public to understand how intertwined our lives are with the natural community, thus realizing that what we do today has far-reaching effects on what McHenry County will look like in the future," said Executive Director Elizabeth Kessler. "This first McHenry County Conservation Congress brought together those individuals to speak with one voice on behalf of our wide open spaces for past and future generations."

Information about the First Conservation Congress can be found on the conservation district's website at www.MCCDistrict.org and posted on their YouTube channel at DiscoverMCCD.