WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House Natural Resources Committee approved two important pieces of legislation that will protect and restore wildlife habitat on public and tribal lands.  The Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act and the Tribal Wildlife Corridors Act will promote landscape scale planning and conservation for wildlife migration pathways to boost biodiversity and safeguard our nation’s fish and wildlife.

“These bills recognize the importance of keeping migration routes connected so that wildlife can find mates, food, and seasonal habitat,” said Tracy Stone-Manning, associate vice president for public lands at the National Wildlife Federation. “By fostering cooperation among local, state, federal and tribal agencies, encouraging scientific research and providing grants for innovative conservation programs, this legislation will safeguard America’s wildlife from the increased pressures of energy development, road construction and other man-made barriers.”

“Wildlife don’t obey jurisdictions or acknowledge borders, they need connected corridors that allow them to migrate, breed, find food, water and shelter. Tribal nations are showing real leadership in maintaining these critical pathways,” said Gloria Tom, director of the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife. “This legislation will support tribal wildlife conservation and address the challenge of coordination across federal agencies, states, and private landowners to manage and implement a system of national corridors that ensure wildlife thrive.” 

The Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act, sponsored by Representative Don Beyer (D-Virginia), enhances scientific data collection, improves engagement across multiple jurisdictions, and directs interagency coordination to conserve wildlife corridors. The Tribal Wildlife Corridors Act, sponsored by Representative Ruben Gallego (D-Arizona), would prioritize resources for Native American tribes to establish or expand conservation projects that encourage wildlife movement.