Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act of 2024

Agriculture and Food

senate

house

president

Introduced on April 18, 2024 by Martin Heinrich

Legislation Details

Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to improve wildlife habitat connectivity and migration corridors.
Defines “native big game species” to include large mammals like deer, elk, pronghorn, wild sheep, and moose.
Modifies the Regional Conservation Partnership Program to include restoration and enhancement of wildlife habitat connectivity and migration corridors, focusing on native big game species.
Allows for enrollment in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program for grasslands enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, with specific conditions and limitations.
Increases the payment limit for rental payments under the Conservation Reserve Program from $50,000 to $125,000.
Enhances payments under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program for activities that address conservation and restoration of wildlife habitat, including connectivity and migration corridors.
Incorporates nonstructural methods for managing livestock distribution, such as virtual fencing, into conservation practice standards and ensures adequate technical assistance is available for these methods.
Encourages conservation of landscape corridors and hydrologic connectivity in conservation programs to conserve native biodiversity and ensure resilience against various stressors.
Adds research and extension grants for virtual fencing technology to understand adoption barriers and study effects on natural and cultural resources, and overall range health.

Last updated 10/7/2024