Richmond Birders,
Ask you House of Delegates member to support HB2331, the Wildlife Corridor
Action Plan (Del. Keam).
https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/
If you still want to do more contact a House Rules Subcommittee #1 member and
ask them to advance the legislation to a vote.
https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?191+sub+H20001
Here is why:
“America’s wildlife are in crisis. More than one-third of all species at-risk
or vulnerable to potential extinction in the decades ahead and fragmented
migration corridors are only accelerating this problem,” said Collin O’Mara,
president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “It’s essential that as
America grows and invests in roads, dams, bridges, housing developments and
energy infrastructure that new barriers are minimized and mitigated to ensure
that wildlife can still move across essential habitat.
Wildlife Corridor Action Plan; Advisory Council. Directs the Department of Game
and Inland Fisheries (the Department) to create a Wildlife Corridor Action Plan
(the Plan) that assesses the connections between core habitat areas, lists
potential projects to improve such connections, and provides an action plan for
the completion of such projects. The bill requires the Department to submit the
Plan, following review, to the Governor and General Assembly by July 1, 2020,
and to update the action plan portion of the Plan every five years thereafter.
The bill creates a nine-member Wildlife Corridor Advisory Council (the Council)
in the executive branch of state government to review and make recommendations
regarding the Plan, including recommendations to the Virginia Department of
Transportation (VDOT) regarding road construction projects.
James Shelton
Richmond Audubon Legislative Chair
