Connectivity Policy

Digests about policy for connectivity and corridors

Most Recent | U.S. Federal Policy | U.S. State Policy | International Policy

Please note: These digests are intended to provide up-to-date information on policy development from a neutral, unaffiliated position as it relates to connectivity and corridor science and management.

Most Recent

Ramsar Convention’s Fifth Strategic Plan incorporates ecological connectivity

Wren Murphy2026-07-22T09:55:36-04:00July 22nd, 2026|

The Ramsar Convention is a decades-old international treaty that was recently updated to incorporate ecological connectivity as a core component of global wetland conservation.

State-by-state connectivity policy guide: Utah

Luca Maes2026-07-09T12:54:35-04:00June 30th, 2026|

Utah's recent initiatives solidify the state’s status as a national leader on habitat connectivity and wildlife crossings policy, particularly for migratory animals.

Appalachian Mountains: policies to keep iconic species connected

Jacob Blandford2026-06-29T13:05:03-04:00May 29th, 2026|

The Appalachian Mountains are a connected landscape that supports both wildlife and communities, and recent policies can help keep it connected for safer roads, healthier ecosystems, and a more resilient future.

U.S. Federal Policy

For more information on federal guidelines and recommendations for wildlife corridors, see Congressional Report R48350.

U.S. Policy Preview: Wildlife Road Crossings Program Reauthorization Act

Rebecca Boslough King2026-04-28T13:31:48-04:00March 30th, 2026|

Three bipartisan bills aim to make the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program permanent and reauthorize funding through 2031.

New guide: local planning for habitat connectivity

Heather Cayton2025-10-28T09:05:40-04:00September 30th, 2025|

The Center for Large Landscape Conservation has issued a new report for local communities that serves as a practical guide for planners and partners to incorporate wildlife habitat connectivity into local land use planning.

Policy Preview: Bipartisan Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act

Braden Hance2024-07-01T12:28:42-04:00June 28th, 2024|

Recently proposed U.S. legislation aims to provide funding and technical expertise for maintaining and restoring connectivity for ungulates in priority movement areas across jurisdictions.

U.S. State Policy

For more information on individual state connectivity policies, visit the State Policy Library.

State-by-state connectivity policy guide: Utah

Luca Maes2026-07-09T12:54:35-04:00June 30th, 2026|

Utah's recent initiatives solidify the state’s status as a national leader on habitat connectivity and wildlife crossings policy, particularly for migratory animals.

Appalachian Mountains: policies to keep iconic species connected

Jacob Blandford2026-06-29T13:05:03-04:00May 29th, 2026|

Local community efforts expand wildlife corridor projects and plans

Kylie Paul2025-12-01T09:43:28-05:00November 25th, 2025|

Efforts from the town of Prescott Valley (Arizona) provide a template for how local communities can support wildlife corridors in their area through a clear, step-by-step process.

International Policy

For more information on connectivity planning documents from countries across six continents, visit the Global Plans Library.

Map of Digests

Where is connectivity research happening near you?

Search our interactive map for hundreds of research summaries on connectivity and corridors, covering over three decades of publications.

State	Year	Policy	Description
New Hampshire	2019	SB200	Requires the New Hampshire Department of Transportation to consider fish and wildlife crossings and mitigation measures in all future road and culvert projects
New Hampshire	2016	SB376	Requires the fish and game department to identify existing and needed wildlife corridors connecting wildlife habitats in the state and to make recommendations for legislative changes

State	Year	Policy	Description
Maine	2023	LD258	Appropriates $7.5 million to Department of Transportation to improve roadways with potential adaptations for wildlife
Maine	2023	LD1881	Establishes compensation fee program relating to fish and wildlife habitats and associated corridors, including compensation paid by solar energy development
Maine	2023	LD508	Requires Department of Environmental Protection to review its permitting laws concerning climate change, habitat connectivity, ecological resilience, and coastal environments

State	Year	Policy	Description
New Jersey	2025	S3618	Directs state agencies to develop a Wildlife Corridor Action Plan
New Jersey	2024	S3916/A5486	Expands eligibility for existing wildlife fencing programs by including farmers leasing farmland
New Jersey	2007	NJAC7:13	Requires the state to incorporate wildlife crossings or a natural bank for terrestrial threatened and endangered species and/or species of concern when a new bridge or culvert project would cause habitat fragmentation

State	Year	Policy	Description
New Mexico	2023	SB72	Appropriates money to new Wildlife Corridors Fund for implementation of wildlife crossing projects under New Mexico Wildlife Corridor Action Plan
New Mexico	2022	HB 2	Allocates funding for projects to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and allows the Department of Transportation and Department of Game to implement their Wildlife Corridors Action Plan
New Mexico	2019	SB 228	Requires the creation of a Wildlife Corridor Action Plan that includes comprehensive guidance to agencies for identifying, prioritizing and maintaining important areas for wildlife movement

State	Year	Policy	Description
Washington	2023	HB1216/SB5196	Requires Department of Ecology to prepare environmental impact statements for clean energy projects that consider impacts to habitat connectivity and wildlife migration corridors
Washington	2022	SB5689	Provides funding for US 97 Wildlife Crossing Improvements project
Washington	2019	SEO 1031.02	Recognizes the effect of roadways in creating barriers to wildlife movement, breeding, and migrations; the Washington State Department of Transportation will promote and support Practical Solutions and Planning and Environmental Linkages to integrate habitat connectivity and biodiversity plans; will make use of the highway prioritization map known as Habitat Connectivity Investment Priorities; and will corporate and coordinate with other agencies involved in wildlife habitat protection, specifically along highways

Connecting Science to Conservation

Connectivity Policy

Most Recent | U.S. Federal Policy | U.S. State Policy | International Policy

Most Recent

Ramsar Convention’s Fifth Strategic Plan incorporates ecological connectivity

State-by-state connectivity policy guide: Utah

Appalachian Mountains: policies to keep iconic species connected

U.S. Federal Policy

U.S. Policy Preview: Wildlife Road Crossings Program Reauthorization Act

New guide: local planning for habitat connectivity

Policy Preview: Bipartisan Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act

U.S. State Policy

State-by-state connectivity policy guide: Utah

Appalachian Mountains: policies to keep iconic species connected

Local community efforts expand wildlife corridor projects and plans

International Policy

Ramsar Convention’s Fifth Strategic Plan incorporates ecological connectivity

CMS/CoP-15: Ecological connectivity strengthens cooperation for migratory species

Mexico establishes the Balam Beh Biological Corridor

State	Year	Policy	Description
Vermont	2023	Act59	Vermont's 30x30 law that commits to conserving and maintaining an ecologically functional landscape that sustains biodiversity and maintains landscape connectivity
Vermont	2016	Act 171	Primarily focuses on timber harvesting regulations, but calls for a study of necessary revisions to planning statutes that protect contiguous areas of forestland from fragmentation and promote habitat connectivity between forestlands

State	Year	Policy	Description
California	2024	AB1889	Requires counties and municipalities to conserve wildlife corridors when planning new developments
California	2023	AB1760	Calls for a statewide analysis of wildlife corridors and connectivity to support conservation planning and climate change adaptation activities.
California	2023	SB145	Outlines provisions for transportation-related environmental mitigation, including funding for wildlife corridors, property and credit purchases for mitigation, reporting requirements, and mandates for wildlife crossings along Interstate 15.
California	2023	SB101	Provides funding for wildlife corridors and open spaces, including projects to improve connectivity and reduce barriers between habitat areas.
California	2022	AB2344	Establishes a state program to address roads with high wildlife-vehicle collisions, authorizes Caltrans to develop standalone wildlife connectivity projects, mandates an inventory and prioritization system for critical areas, and requires integration of wildlife passage features into relevant road designs.
California	2022	AB1384	Requires agencies to address vulnerabilities in Safeguarding California Plans, including protecting and enhancing wildlife corridors
California	2021	SB790	Approves compensatory mitigation credits for wildlife connectivity actions
California	2021	AB1183	Establishes the California Desert Conservation Program to protect biodiversity, including the protection and enhancement of habitat connectivity
California	2021	AB128	Appropriates funding for wildlife crossing projects, including the Liberty Canyon crossing for mountain lions
California	2015	AB 498	Amends the California Fish and Game Code to encourage, wherever feasible, voluntary steps to protect the functioning of wildlife corridors
California	2014	AB1471	Provides funds to the Sacramento- San Joaquin Delta Conservancy, in part to protect and restore aquatic, wetland, and migratory bird ecosystems including corridors.
California	2008	AB2785	Orders Dept. of Fish & Wildlife to investigate, study, and identify key wildlife corridors and linkages within the state, and to make those areas public

State	Year	Policy	Description
Florida	2024	SB1638	Dedicates annual funding to land purchases, conservation easements, and trail maintenance within Florida Wildlife Corridor
Florida	2023	HB1379	Creates annual appropriation to acquire lands that complete certain linkages and are under high population stress within Florida Wildlife Corridor
Florida	2023	SB2500 sec.146	Provides funding to buy Ocala to Osceola (“O2O”) Wildlife Corridor
Florida	2021	SB976	Tasks state agencies with maintaining wildlife connectivity and designates Florida Wildlife Corridor as an existing physical, geographically defined area
Florida	2021	SB2500	Appropriates $300 million to acquire lands to conserve Florida Wildlife Corridor
Florida	2019	SB7068	Creates a "Multi-use Corridors of Regional Economic Significance Program" that includes protection of wildlife corridors as an intended benefit
Florida	2008	SB542	Amends Florida Forever Act statues to include goals of connecting linkage corridors
Florida	2001	SB1468	Amends Florida Forever Act to establish that land acquisitions should include complete landscape linkages and corridors
Florida	1999	S908	Creates Florida Forever Program, with increased protection of lands that protect threatened or endangered species and plans to create a statewide system of connected landscape linkages