New USDA Announcement Supports Wildlife Connectivity Across the U.S.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 21, 2024 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a Department-wide effort to support connectivity of wildlife habitat on working landscapes through the management of National Forests and voluntary conservation assistance on private agricultural lands. In a memorandum released this week, Vilsack detailed plans of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to drive coordination and action within the Department to improve terrestrial wildlife habitat connectivity and corridors in a way that recognizes and leverages state and Tribal authorities, capitalizes on public land management and respects private property rights through voluntary, locally-led conservation.
In this memorandum, Vilsack directs USDA to marshal a network of programs across USDA, including those of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), Forest Service (FS) and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to:
“Most wildlife in America, from sage grouse to bobwhite and elk to waterfowl, depend on vast swaths of connected habitat, much of which is provided thanks to the stewardship of U.S. farmers, ranchers and forest owners,” said Robert Bonnie, USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation. “At USDA, we’re partnering with farmers, ranchers and forest owners to help conserve a connected mosaic of wildlife habitat across America’s public and private lands through incentives that reward them for their stewardship activities. USDA has had tremendous success working with those who voluntarily conserve wildlife habitat and integrate wildlife-friendly measures into their agricultural lands, which has benefitted so many species, from the Greater sage-grouse to the Louisiana black bear. By building on the Department’s existing efforts and leveraging our partners, we hope to make meaningful impacts for wildlife, agriculture and communities.”