America’s Wildlife Would Benefit From Historic Conservation Bill

WASHINGTON — With the passage of a historic conservation bill this week, the U.S. House committed over $2 billion to restoring habitats and potentially saving scores of species from extinction.

In addition to being a watershed moment for the conservation movement, the 231-190 vote in favor of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act of 2022 showed there is significant bipartisan support for ensuring the species that are here today remain an enduring part of the American landscape.

The bill will now move on to the Senate, where it already has 16 Republican cosponsors.

The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act of 2022 intended to address the biodiversity crisis evidenced in the 12,000 species federal and state agencies have identified as being in the greatest need of protection and preservation.  

Efforts funded under Act will be guided by the congressionally-mandated State Wildlife Action Plans, which identify specific, science-based strategies to restore populations of species.

Alejandro Pérez, senior vice president of policy and government affairs at the World Wildlife Fund stated, “The toll being placed on our nation’s wildlife is serious and this proposal will provide much-needed resources to protect these vulnerable species.”

According to a press release from the Center for Biological Diversity, “States would receive $1.3 billion in dedicated funding for proactive, on-the-ground conservation projects to help species of greatest conservation need in their state. The bill also provides nearly $1 billion for wildlife conservation efforts on tribal lands and secures additional short-term funding for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.” 

That funding will ensure environmentally conscious infrastructure, incorporate tribes into conservation efforts, and provide scientists with the tools they need to limit the endangered species list.

Pérez noted, “With strong bipartisan support, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will step in to provide needed recovery. It also serves as the only federal conservation program guaranteeing sustained funding for Native Nations, so tribes will be able to focus efforts on wildlife conservation and habitat restoration activities.” 

This is critical as tribes have essential insight into the risks to species in their environments and own significant amounts of rural land to devote to conservation.

The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act of 2022 aligns with President Biden’s America the Beautiful initiative, which calls for the federal government to combat the climate crisis and support environmental philanthropic and private organizations. 

In addition, this bill follows in the footsteps of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act and State and Tribal Wildlife Grant Program, to provide organizations with the tools they need to conserve species from the depths of oceans to the tops of tree branches.

“It all boils down to if they can find a way to pay for it on the senate side, that’s been the issue on the House and Senate side from day one” Michael A. Butler, chief executive officer of the Tennessee Wildlife Federation noted.

“When you have something that’s requesting mandatory spending and it’s requesting permanent authorization and permanent funding then there are a bunch of people on both sides of the aisle that want to know … how are we going to pay for this?”

 “We’re optimistic that something can get put together because there is so much support for it, even folks that voted against it yesterday didn’t want to vote against it yesterday. They were vocal about that.” Butler said, “I think both sides of the aisle understand that this could save money long term by preventing things from going on the endangered species act list.”

Eden can be reached at [email protected]