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WASHINGTON— Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) , ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies joined the Wildlands Network and New Mexico State Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard and wildlife advocates, scientists and state and Tribal elected officials to discuss how protecting and investing in wildlife corridors and crossings through shared partnerships can support state and local economies as well as wildlife and public lands. The panelists discussed Udall’s legislation, the Wildlife Corridors Act of 2019 and the Tribal Wildlife Corridors Act of 2019 , bills that would improve habitat connectivity with a voluntary network of lands to tackle the dual climate and nature crises.
A United Nations report released in 2019 found that one million plant and animal species are facing extinction – and that habitat destruction caused by human activity is a key contributor to the threat. Through voluntary partnerships that connect land into stretches of habitat to allow migration, wildlife corridors can reverse the process of habitat loss and fragmentation, protecting migration routes and safeguarding species from the devastating impacts of a changing climate and habitat loss due to human development. Udall has championed efforts in the Senate to preserve habitat connectivity for migrating species across the country.
“Worldwide, we’re experiencing the 6th mass extinction in the history of the earth, and we have to act boldly so our children and grandchildren can experience the wonder of the diverse natural world and look forward to a livable future,” Udall said. “Safeguarding and improving wildlife migration corridors is one of the paths forward to take on the dual climate and nature crises. Native Nations, as the original stewards of the land, have a lot to teach us to make sure we create a future that works with the wildlife we depend on for our life support system. We are all interconnected—which is why I was proud to introduce legislation that honors the work of state and Tribal leaders to establish and promote wildlife corridors on federal and Tribal lands. I am working hard in the Senate to bring this legislation to the finish line—we have no more time to waste.”
The Wildlife Corridors Act of 2019
The Wildlife Corridors Act of 2019 provides a framework to address the long-term habitat connectivity of native species. This bill enhances federal data collection, improves partnerships and voluntary engagement with private landholders and across multiple jurisdictions, and directs interagency coordination to maintain natural wildlife movement processes and connectivity on public lands. The bill gives authority to key federal agencies to designate National Wildlife Corridors on federal lands. The bill also promotes public safety and protects species where corridors cross infrastructure. This bill is a critical step forward in protecting our nation’s lands and waters and in restoring fish, wildlife, and plant populations to conserve biodiversity for future generations. More information on the bill can be found HERE .
Tribal Wildlife Corridors Act of 2019
The Tribal Wildlife Corridors Act of 2019 empowers Tribes to enhance native habitat connectivity on Tribal lands by funding a grant program to encourage native species movement. The legislation would also direct relevant federal agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to consider opportunities to link Tribal Wildlife Corridors to U.S. Forest Service-managed lands and USDA-administered projects, while directing the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) to engage in meaningful consultation with Tribes administering a recognized Tribal Wildlife Corridor. The legislation would also direct DOI to provide technical assistance to Tribes to establish, manage, or expand a Tribal Wildlife Corridor. Developed in consultation with Tribes, the legislation is designed to honor the federal trust responsibility to Indian Tribes by supporting Tribes’ work to coordinate wildlife management strategies. More information on the bill can be found HERE .
