The Wildlife Movement through Partnerships Act of 2024 receives bipartisan praise from House Natural Resources Committee Members

Washington, D.C. –  The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee held a hearing Tuesday on the bipartisan Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act (H.R. 8836/S.4953), sponsored by the U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA) and Ryan Zinke (R-MT) and U.S. Senator Padilla (D-CA). The bill establishes a new program to provide financial and technical assistance to States, Tribes, and regional partnerships for the conservation of wildlife migration routes and connectivity. The bill would also direct the U.S. Geological Survey corridor mapping team to collaborate with States and Tribes to identify key sites along migratory pathways in need of habitat connectivity restoration. 

“Reconnecting wildlife habitat is key to recovering America’s most at-risk species,” said Susan Holmes, Executive Director of the Endangered Species Coalition. “By improving federal collaboration and technical assistance to protect wildlife migration and movement, this bill is a win for wildlife such as the ocelot in Texas, the Sonoran pronghorn in Arizona, and the California Tiger Salamander. The Endangered Species Coalition thanks our House and Senate leaders for holding a hearing on this bill and showing support across party lines.”

One in five of the migratory species on the UN’s global list are threatened with extinction, and of these, the North American species are experiencing faster declines than other regions. Many endangered species, such as the red wolf, Florida panther, ocelot, grizzly bear, and the red-cockaded woodpecker, struggle due to habitat fragmentation resulting from roads and poorly planned development. Connecting habitats by protecting corridors enables species to migrate, access resources for survival, and better adapt to changing landscapes and climate. International experts call for wildlife corridors as part of an integrated strategy to address both climate change and biodiversity loss.

###

The post Congressional Lawmakers Show Support for Wildlife Corridors at  Committee Hearing appeared first on Endangered Species Coalition.