Bill highlight: SB 455 Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund

SB 455 from Senator Marsden would create the Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund to implement Virginia’s Wildlife Corridor Action Plan (WCAP).

Background:

Virginia has made a lot of progress reconnecting nature and. A collaborative effort led to the creation of the Wildlife Corridor Action Plan (WCAP). The WCAP identifies priority crossing points and opportunities to build corridor infrastructure. Funding and policy is still needed to accelerate implementation of the plan. 

Why we support SB 455:

1. Nature in the U.S. has been fragmented into many pieces by roads, fences and other development that blocks the movement of animals. This can knock whole ecosystems out of balance and leave species more susceptible to other challenges like disease and climate change when they are sectioned off into small mating pools. Reconnecting nature is critical to biodiversity and healthy ecosystems.
2. Virginia has created a plan but funding and long term support is needed to fulfill the plan’s recommendations.
3. Wildlife corridors protect both wildlife and people. Deer collisions cost Virginians lives as well as hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Simple fencing has shown to dramatically reduce collisions. 

Tell your legislators to support HB 455 and allocation of money to the fund.