18 TH Be AUD: UFBCOIN Baus ieee 
Natural Resources Council of Illinois 
By Betty Groth 
THIS SEPTEMBER AT Allerton House, Monticello, Illinois, the Natural 
Resources Council of Illinois held an open forum for three days on major 
conservation issues. Participants were such divergent organizations as 
the Federation of Sportmen’s Clubs, Izaak Walton League, Prairie Chick- 
en Foundation of Illinois, Illinois Audubon Society (whose President, Ray- 
mond Mostek, was chairman of the Conference), and many state, county, 
and local conservation officials and nature groups. All sought a solution 
to the problem of adequate land and facilities for outdoor recreation. 
As a delegate of the Illinois Audubon Society, I felt that these ses- 
sions revealed the urgent pressure from many groups for multiple use of 
land. This is a term that you will hear often, for many interests in the 
state feel that unspoiled land or unused land is unpardonable when there is 
such a shortage of space. To me, multiple use of land is a threat to wild- 
life, but the Natural Resources Council, operating as an open forum, must 
view all sides. 
Opening night featured a talk by Dr. Thomas G. Scott of the State 
Natural History Survey. His address, printed in The Wilson Bulletin, com- 
prises a report on conservation education, land-use problems, refuges, drain- 
age subsidies, the Wilderness Bill, habitat modification, pollution, pesti- 
cides, oli spillage, control of bird populations, and endangered species. 
We also saw a color movie on the Hodges Hanging Gardens of Louisiana. 
Saturday morning, after registration of about 70 delegates, the main 
program began on “Outdoor Recreation Needs for Illinois.” Robert Lind- 
ley, Vice President, Illinois Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, spoke on 
“What the Federation Seeks for Illinois,” urging that public leaders and 
representatives set aside more land. 
Director William T. Lodge of the Conservation Department, Spring- 
field, discussed “An Expansion Program for Our Illinois State Parks.” He 
wished he could say that he has a plan. His staff knows the needs but 
has no money to do the work. Of $700,000 appropriated from the General 
Fund for the 2-year biennium for the Conservation Department, only $100,- 
000 is actually available. Fully 87% of the General Fund goes to Education, 
Health and Welfare, with ALL OTHER AGENCIES fighting for the 13% 
left. Less than three fourths of 1% of the total state budget is for outdoor 
recreation, State Parks, etc. Mr. Lodge feels that what is not done in the 
next 15 years will never be done. Land will be gone or so expensive it can- 
not be bought. 
As Chairman Mostek warned: When all the fishing water is pol- 
luted, when the hunters have no place to hunt, when all the camp grounds 
are filled, then all the different planning agencies in the state will be 
moved to act, and it will be too late. Mr. Mostek outlined the following 
7-point program: 
1. We must inform our members through conservation education. 
