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8 <br /> 1 Developing and implementing a program for the acquisition and management of land for resource <br /> 2 conservation; 3) Integrating current and future natural and cultural resource data into a <br /> 3 Comprehensive Resource Database; 4) Providing staff support to Commissions and Boards; and <br /> 4 5) Working collaboratively with other departments and agencies on resource conservation; and <br /> 5 <br /> 6 WHEREAS, the department was staffed with existing and new positions with expertise in <br /> 7 environmental planning, landscape architecture and park design, land conservation, water <br /> 8 resource conservation, and cultural resource conservation (historic and agricultural preservation); <br /> 9 and <br /> 10 <br /> 11 WHEREAS, the subsequent development of the Lands Legacy Program was created and <br /> 12 approved as a comprehensive initiative in April 2000, implementing the goal of a program working <br /> 13 with willing landowners for the conservation, acquisition and management of important lands for <br /> 14 natural and cultural resources; and <br /> 15 <br /> 16 WHEREAS, the Lands Legacy Program has since been successful in the conservation of <br /> 17 approximately 1,114 acres for eight current or future parks, and holds conservation easements <br /> 18 on approximately 2,973 acres, with over 2,300 of these acres protecting active farms; and <br /> 19 <br /> 20 WHEREAS, in these 25 years, the Lands Legacy Program has received over$6.1 million dollars <br /> 21 in federal and state match grant funds aiding in the acquisition of the above, working with a variety <br /> 22 of conservation partners and willing landowners; and <br /> 23 <br /> 24 WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina will celebrate Great Trails State Day on October 19, 2024, <br /> 25 with Orange County as a signatory partner in this initiative that ties closely to the County's <br /> 26 conservation initiatives; and <br /> 27 <br /> 28 WHEREAS, the County plans to celebrate the 25th anniversary of these initiatives in conjunction <br /> 29 with Great Trails State Day on October 19, 2024 at Blackwood Farm Park; <br /> 30 <br /> 31 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> 32 commends the celebration of 25 years of conservation initiatives, and declares October 19, 2024 <br /> 33 to be Great Trails State Day in Orange County. <br /> 34 <br /> 35 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board recognizes the foresight and action of the 1999 <br /> 36 Orange County Board of Commissioners and those involved in the creation of these efforts 25 <br /> 37 years ago to help protect our most important natural and cultural resource lands, which continue <br /> 38 to bear fruit to this day. <br /> 39 <br /> 40 <br /> 41 This the 15th Day of October, 2024. <br /> 42 <br /> 43 Jamezetta Bedford, Chair <br /> 44 Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> 45 <br /> 46 A motion was made by Commissioner Richards, seconded by Commissioner McKee, to <br /> 47 approve and authorize the Chair to sign the proclamation. <br /> 48 <br /> 49 VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 50 <br />