New Wildlife Habitat Bill Is Introduced, but More Resources are Needed to Recover Birds and Other Wildlife

WASHINGTON (February 29, 2024) – The America’s Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act, launched within the U.S. Home of Representatives by Consultant Bruce Westerman (R-AR), supplies funding for wildlife conservation initiatives on the state and tribal ranges. Nonetheless, it would additionally repeal essential funding and packages managed by NOAA and the Bureau of Reclamation below the Inflation Discount Act and Infrastructure Funding and Jobs Act, and extra assets are urgently wanted than the invoice supplies to counteract the consequences of a rising biodiversity disaster.

“Habitat loss and a altering local weather are threatening the habitats of birds and different wildlife throughout the nation, and so they want all the assistance they’ll get,” stated Felice Stadler, vice chairman of presidency affairs on the Nationwide Audubon Society. “We recognize Consultant Westerman’s engagement in habitat conservation. We hope to see Congress advance laws with bipartisan help to protect biodiversity on the scale and urgency that’s obligatory.”

Associated laws launched within the Senate — the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act — would assist guarantee extra enough and dependable assets via devoted funding to assist preserve and recuperate hundreds of at-risk species. That laws has broad bipartisan help and would assist meet the wants for states and tribes to implement wildlife motion plans.

“Investing in wildlife not solely helps preserve beloved species, it additionally means investing in our native economies that profit from out of doors recreation and wholesome hen populations—together with birdwatching, a $100 billion greenback business within the U.S., and which 96 million People partake in yearly in line with the newest survey by Fish and Wildlife Service,” stated Stadler. “Chook populations are in decline, and they’re relying on a lot better assets to preserve the locations that they – and we – name house.”

Media contact: Robyn Shepherd, robyn.shepherd@audubon.org

The Nationwide Audubon Society protects birds and the locations they want, at present and tomorrow. A nonprofit conservation group since 1905, Audubon works all through the Americas utilizing science, advocacy, schooling, and on-the-ground conservation. Study extra at www.audubon.org and on Fb, Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety.