Rep. Don Beyer Introduces Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act To Protect Biodiversity
More great work by Rep. Don Beyer…
Beyer Introduces Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act To Protect Biodiversity
Legislation Endorsed By Leading Environmental Organizations and Scientists, Including Biologist E.O. Wilson
Legislation Endorsed By Leading Environmental Organizations and Scientists, Including Biologist E.O. Wilson
December 7, 2016
(Washington, DC) – This week, Representative Don Beyer introduced the
Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act of 2016 to begin reversing the tide
of habitat loss and fragmentation for U.S. fish, wildlife, and plant
species.
Wildlife corridors are stretches of
habitat that allow species to move from one area of habitat to another
for such purposes as accessing resources, establishing new territories,
shifting ranges, promoting gene flow, and adapting to the impacts of a
changing climate. Corridors have been successfully implemented around
the world and throughout the U.S., yet current law provides limited
requirements for land and water managers to address species’
connectivity needs.
“With roughly one in five animal and
plant species in the U.S. at risk of extinction due to habitat loss and
fragmentation, one of the simplest yet most effective things we can do
is to provide them ample opportunity to move across lands and waters,”
said Rep. Beyer.
The Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act
establishes a National Wildlife Corridors System to
ensure that species
are able to move between habitats less encumbered by obstacles. The bill
directs key Federal land and water management agencies to work with
each other, as well as with States, tribes, local governments, and
private landowners, to develop and manage national wildlife corridors in
accordance with existing laws and the habitat connectivity needs of
native species.
Paired with a new public-facing
geographic information system (GIS) database of corridors and modest
additional funding to the key agencies, the National Wildlife Corridors
System promises the framework to strengthen fish, wildlife, and plant
species populations, while at the same time improving recreational
opportunities and roadway safety for people.
The bill enjoys broad support from the scientific community and more than 60 conservation organizations, including the National Wildlife Federation.
“The Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act
would provide the most important step of any single piece of legislation
at the present time in enlarging the nations protected areas and
thereby saving large swaths of America’s wildlife and other fauna and
flora, especially in this critical time of climate change and shifting
locations of the original environments in which a large part of
biodiversity has existed,” renowned biologist E.O. Wilson said of the
bill.
“Habitat loss and fragmentation are the
biggest drivers of species declines,” said Susan Holmes, Policy Director
for the Wildlands Network. “We thank Congressman Beyer for introducing
this important legislation to better connect wildlife, from the bald
eagle to the Florida panther, with important habitat.”
“Corridors increase wildlife movement
between habitat areas by approximately 50 percent compared to areas not
connected by corridors. By creating a system of national wildlife
corridors, this bill will help protect and restore America’s wildlife,”
said Leda Huta, Executive Director of the Endangered Species Coalition.
“Defenders of Wildlife appreciates
Representative Beyer’s leadership in protecting America’s wildlife and
their habitats through this strategic and collaborative approach to
conservation planning,” said Mark Salvo, Vice President of Landscape
Conservation at Defenders of Wildlife.
“Connecting our public wildlands
and waters is key to the survival of a diverse array of treasured
species, from the grizzly, to the elk, to the monarch butterfly. The
Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act is an investment in our natural
heritage and the type of proactive wildlife stewardship that transcends
political affiliation, speaking to the heart of our American values.”
Text of the bill can be read here.
The Wildlands Network has also created a fact sheet for the Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act, as well as facts sheets for potential impacts of the bill on specific species, including the grizzly bear, the monarch butterfly, the Florida panther, and the pronghorn.
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