Senate Resolution No. 2856
BY: Senator PALUMBO
MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
June 11, 2022, as Dragonfly Day in the State of New
York
WHEREAS, The State of New York takes great pride in recognizing
official days established to increase awareness of serious issues; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize
Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 11, 2022, as Dragonfly Day in the
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Dragonflies are a sentinel species; their presence (or
absence) is indicative of the health of our wetland ecosystems, and
whether harmful chemicals such as pesticides, nitrogen, or bacterial
contamination and pathogens, are present; and
WHEREAS, Efforts to control mosquito populations with pesticides and
wetland modifications disrupt marine and terrestrial food webs; certain
forms of wetland modifications may compromise the ability of wetlands to
remain resilient to the impacts of climate change; more science-based
studies are needed; and
WHEREAS, Ecosystem services include: flood and storm water control,
surface and ground water protection, carbon sequestration, erosion
control, water and air filtration, flood and extreme weather event
buffers, habitat for a range of plant and animal species, as well as
providing food and spawning; and
WHEREAS, Wetlands are compromised when infrastructure is built
directly adjacent to wetland areas; coastal wetlands need room to expand
and migrate inland as the sea level rises and severe weather events
increase; and
WHEREAS, Developments on tidal wetlands, dredging and hardening of
the shoreline prevent important tidal flows that are part of dynamic
sediment systems needed to sustain wetland areas; reduced tidal flows
mean reductions in ecosystem services such as sediment retention,
nutrient and organic matter recycling, storm, flood and sea level rise
buffers; and
WHEREAS, Healthy tidal and freshwater wetlands not only provide
ecosystem services, habitat and sources of food for marine and
terrestrial animals, but provide resiliency to our coastal areas by
absorbing wave energy, storm surges and floodwater protecting
infrastructure and saving lives; and
WHEREAS, Freshwater wetland areas that are polluted by storm runoff,
mowed or modified will have diminished ecosystem services and
biodiversity loss and may become breeding grounds of new vector borne
diseases that flourish as temperatures increase in the years ahead; and
WHEREAS, Scientific nature-based solutions offer powerful tools for
addressing climate change related hazards including biodiversity and
ecosystem loss; dragonflies like damselflies, birds and bats are
voracious predators but they are diminishing in numbers; and
WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
this serious issue, and more must be done to protect wetland ecosystems
and dragonfly habitat at the local, State and national levels; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 11, 2022, as
Dragonfly Day in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.
