Bill to Create State Wildlife Corridors Action Plan Signed Into Law

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has officially signed SB 228, the Wildlife Corridors Act, which will direct the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and the Department of Transportation to develop a Wildlife Corridors Action Plan. The plan would identify highway crossings and other man-made barriers that cut off wildlife migration, projections of anticipated effects that drought and other stressors will have on wildlife habitat and dispersal and information about how increased movement of species could benefit highly impacted habitats.

Michael Dax, Southwest program representative for Defenders of Wildlife, issued this statement:

“This legislation is a strong affirmation of New Mexico’s commitment to protecting critical wildlife corridors across the state. Impacts from climate change are pushing wildlife from their historic ranges and wildlife are experiencing more and more vehicle conflicts. This bill pledges the state to take proactive steps to mitigate those kinds of collisions and will also create the Wildlife Corridors Action Plan which will serve as a clearing house for information about connectivity needs for an array of wildlife in our state, from elk to native fish.”