Press Release Jun 24, 2024

NPCA Applauds Bipartisan Legislation to Enhance Wildlife Corridors & Connectivity

Share on:

"Animals frequently travel and migrate within and outside of park boundaries, and this legislation provides critical and innovative solutions towards their long-term conservation" -- NPCA Senior Wildlife Program Director Bart Melton

#{image.caption}

Why did the alligator cross the road? It doesn't matter — act like these cyclists on the Shark Valley bike bath in Everglades National Park and just keep moving (or turn around if the situation seems unsafe). Never pick up a wild animal.

  camera icon © Andylid/Dreamstime

WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Alex Padilla and Representatives Ryan Zinke and Don Beyer announced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to strengthen wildlife connectivity and migration, through new support for state, tribal, and locally-led efforts. The National Parks Conservation Association supports the Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act, which stands to benefit species including park wildlife.

National, bipartisan polling data released by NPCA in 2023 found broad support for areas addressed by the legislation, including:

  • 89% of Americans agree that more needs to be done to ensure federal, state, and Tribal governments work together to protect wildlife populations.

  • 87% of Americans support restoring or preserving wildlife habitat connectivity and improving migration corridors on lands and waters within and beyond park borders.

“From black bears in Yosemite to elk herds in Yellowstone, wildlife are on the move daily in America’s national parks. Park animals frequently travel and migrate within and outside of park boundaries, and this legislation provides critical and innovative solutions towards their long-term conservation,“ said Bart Melton, Senior Director, Wildlife Program for the National Parks Conservation Association. "The bipartisan Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act will provide the support state and federal agencies, tribes, and communities need to collaborate to protect and restore park wildlife on the move. The National Parks Conservation Association thanks Senator Padilla and Representatives Zinke and Beyer for introducing this critical legislation.”

# # #

About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.6 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.

For Media Inquiries

Recent Posts