Today, the House passed the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. This legislation will support the recovery of thousands of at-risk species. The bill will also be the only federal conservation program guaranteeing sustained funding for Native Nations. Specifically, the bill provides $97.5 million annually for tribes to carry out wildlife conservation and habitat restoration activities.
In response, WWF issued the following statement from Alejandro Pérez, senior vice president, policy and government affairs:
“One-third of the fish and wildlife species in the US are at risk of becoming threatened or endangered, with more than 12,000 species in need of proactive conservation efforts. Failure to act would further threaten wildlife that is already suffering from habitat loss, climate change and invasive species.
“With strong bipartisan support, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will step in to provide needed recovery. It also serves as the only federal conservation program guaranteeing sustained funding for Native Nations, so tribes will be able to focus efforts on wildlife conservation and habitat restoration activities.
“The toll being placed on our nation’s wildlife is serious and this proposal will provide much-needed resources to protect these vulnerable species.”