California’s 30x30 program, launched in 2020 by Governor Newsom’s executive order # N-82-20, aims to conserve 30 percent of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030.
This focus on protecting Nature and keeping more lands natural and undeveloped aim , (District 15-Santa Clara County) s to combat climate change effects and the biodiversity crisis. Natural lands can sequester vast amounts of carbon and provide the best wildlife habitat, to avoid species extinctions.
But these lands offer the best habitat only if they are connected to other protected lands. If a park and a wilderness area, for example, are separate and isolated from each other—having a wildlife corridor connecting them (even if its protection is less than wilderness or park) greatly boosts their habitat value.
Therefore, the 30x30 program put a strong emphasis on wildlife corridors. Sierra Club supports a bill in the current state legislature, SB 1250, by Senator Dave Cortese (District 15-Santa Clara County), that would bring earlier coordination for building highway wildlife crossings. As Senator Cortese puts it:
“Every year across California, thousands of drivers experience dangerous wildlife-vehicle collisions on highways and local roadways. More than 7,000 wildlife-vehicle collisions are reported annually in California involving deer and other large animals— creating serious safety risks and costly damage for motorists.
That is why I introduced Senate Bill 1250 to prioritize roadway safety. SB 1250 will help reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions by integrating wildlife crossings into highway planning and infrastructure improvements throughout California. By creating safer pathways for animals to cross roads and highways, we can better protect drivers, preserve wildlife habitats, and improve roadway safety for everyone.”
SB 1250 has been approved by the Senate and is now referred to the Assembly for further consideration. https://sd15.senate.ca.gov/news/corteses-sb-1250-road-and-highway-safety-wildlife
Ask your Assemblymember to vote YES on SB 1250. Go to https://www.assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers/find-my-rep or https://catelework.org/take_action_now.html
Wildlife Corridors in Congress
Highway crossings that let creatures from deer, or foxes, down to tiny salamanders cross roads safely are the most visible aspect of wildlife corridors. But the broad natural corridors in which wildlife prefer to move indicate vital natural processes beyond highway over or under crossing infrastructure. California is not the only state to care about wildlife corridors. A Virginia Congressman, Don Beyer, (D-VA8) has several times since the 116th Congress introduced bills to give this country a national System of Wildlife Corridors— a System similar to our System of National Parks or our National Wilderness System. Starting in the 116th Congress, his initial bill HR 2795 (for which we lobbied) went nowhere, and subsequent bills also saw no action.
This year on Earth Day, April 22, Beyer, along with Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-FL16), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA18), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA1) introduced a bipartisan bill, HR 8438, the Wildlife Corridors and Habitat Connectivity Act. This legislation would support planning for and identification of natural species migration patterns to improve safe, free movement between habitats by establishing a National Wildlife Corridor System.
This is very much a 30x30 effort!
In the backward Congress we have now, this bill has no chance of passage. However, it is important to let our members of Congress know that we strongly support this bill and its vital connectivity concept. If enough members of Congress keep on hearing about this, we can more easily advance later. Urge them to support HR 8438—because it would protect and restore the pathways animals need to survive, while investing in wildlife crossings and habitat restoration. Contact your member of Congress through his or her website or call via the Capitol switchboard at (202)224-3121 to be connected directly to your Representative’s office.
Wildlife Corridors in YOUR Chapter
To find out more about what Angeles Chapter is doing and how you can help to promote greater habitat connectivity in your area, contact 30x30 leads Andrea Iniguez, at andrea.iniguez@sierraclub.org or Johanna Iraheta, at iraheta.johanna@gmail.com Or you can contact Anne Henny or Vicky Hoover, Sierra Club 30x30 co-chairs. anneth16@sbcglobal.net or vicky.hoover@sierraclub.org.