June 24, 2024
The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (Association) applauds the introduction of the Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act. Today, Senator Padilla (C-CA) and Representatives Zinke (R-MT) and Beyer (D-VA) introduced the bill to bolster efforts to conserve wildlife migration corridors and seasonal habitat.
“We thank Senator Padilla and Representatives Zinke and Beyer for leading this legislation and supporting voluntary, cooperative conservation that will build on successful frameworks,” said Chuck Sykes, Director of the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries and President of the Association. "State fish and wildlife agencies have developed conservation plans identifying and integrating wildlife movement and migration routes but need the funding to put these projects on the ground with their partners.”
Since the signing of Secretarial Order 3362 (SO 3362): Improving Habitat Quality in Western Big Game Winter Range and Migration Corridors, State and Tribal governments have worked with the Department of the Interior, U.S. Forest Service, NGOs, and private partners to improve over 3 million acres of big game habitat, with more than 1 million of those acres located within State-identified migration corridors. The Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act would continue and expand this great work by establishing a grant program to improve or conserve habitat quality in wildlife movement areas across the country. The bill would also establish a State and Tribal migration research program to provide funds for increased data collection, analysis, and identification of movement areas.
“State-led initiatives provide the most effective investments for landscape scale conservation,” said Ron Regan, Executive Director of the Association. “By expanding the model of SO 3362 beyond the West and enhancing the data available for science-based management, Congress can help ensure State agencies and their partners continue to fulfill their responsibilities as stewards of our natural resources.”
The Association urges support for the bill and looks forward to working with Congress to provide funding for the programs it would establish.
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The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies represents North America’s fish and wildlife agencies to advance sound, science-based management and conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats in the public interest. The Association represents its state agency members on Capitol Hill and before the Administration to advance favorable fish and wildlife conservation policy and funding and works to ensure that all entities work collaboratively on the most important issues. The Association also provides member agencies with coordination services on cross-cutting as well as species-based programs that range from birds, fish habitat and energy development to climate change, wildlife action plans, conservation education, leadership training and international relations. Working together, the Association’s member agencies are ensuring that North American fish and wildlife management has a clear and collective voice.