Findings; purpose

(a) The General Assembly finds that: (1) Trees are essential to ecological, cultural, and economic life on Earth. (2) Trees support species diversity, food webs, habitats, and numerous ecological processes, such as water and air purification. (3) Trees assist in regulating climate and soil fertility. (4) The State must commit to preserving and celebrating our legacy and heritage trees and must develop pathways for the public to advocate for the preservation of trees in communities. (b) The General Assembly intends this Act to help create a Statewide legacy tree program to promote the identification, awareness, commemoration, and preservation of significant trees within the State. (Source: P.A. 103-863, eff. 1-1-25 .)