Declare Dragonfly Day Statewide

June 8, 2019, 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 Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 8, 2019, 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 Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 8, 2019, 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 Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York.